Sometimes we feel like our own inner world is the one that needs to be turned upside down. We see pictures of everyone’s fabulous lives on social media and it reminds us of how much we long for the deep connection with another, a connection we can’t ever seem to obtain. We empty ourselves caring for an ailing loved one and wonder if our own inner reserves will ever be filled again. Luke’s beatitudes and Mary’s song are for us to. God’s power comes out to meet us and to turn our world around, making our hearts to sing again, perhaps at first in a whispering song of tentative hope, and then later a full-voiced aria of rejoicing as God’s stronger-than-death love brings spring to our wintry hearts.
These are days when I feel like signs of God's abundance are all around. Just yesterday, as of this writing, I began my time serving as Administrator for Communications, Worship, and Community Life (the longest title ever, I know) here at Holy Trinity. This is, for me, a sign of God's abundance because I am getting to worship, serve, sing, play, coordinate, facilitate, and more, with a vibrant community that I've followed and loved from afar for years. You all (Y'all, where I come from), the community of Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, are a sign of God's abundance for me.In this weekend's Gospel reading we'll hear the story of the loaves and fishes. When Jesus told the disciples to feed the gathered crowds and they realize that they have only five loaves and two fish, God's abundance was, I imagine, the furthest thing from their minds. But Jesus did a curious thing, he took, blessed and broke the loaves, and somehow, all who were gathered ate and were well-filled...there were even leftovers.There are times in our lives when what we are given seems anything but abundant. Sometimes the only thing that seems abundant is our brokenness. But what did Jesus do before he broke those loaves? He blessed them. Just as we are blessed by God even in our brokenness. And as we gather in our blessed brokenness, we are somehow re-membered as the body of Christ: broken, yet whole; one body, though many members. And then all are fed: "The Body of Christ, broken for you." "The Blood of Christ, shed for you." And miracle of miracles: there are leftovers (and sometimes aren't the leftovers the best of all?) ! God's abundance overflows in us so that we become like those twelve baskets full. We become a sign of God's abundance: food and drink, broken and poured out for the life of the world.What are some signs of God's abundance in your life?How have you experienced God's abundance in the midst of brokenness?How might your experience of God's abundance overflow beyond yourself?