If you talk to my wife, Dana, she will tell you that I am not a big fan of “leftovers”. Understand, I do eat “leftovers”, but I am not a big fan of eating them. I think one of my favorite quotes about “leftovers” is the one that says, “The most remarkable thing about my mother is that for thirty years she served nothing but leftovers. The original meal has never been found.” My other favorite quote comes from our scripture reading this morning. Jesus and the disciples had just finished feeding the five thousand as we know the story. He then sends his disciples out to collect the leftovers. He tells them: “Gather the pieces that are left over. Let nothing be wasted.”
“Let nothing be wasted.”
According to the dictionary “leftover” means “something, especially food, remaining after the rest has been used or consumed.” For a transient sort of person . . . a person always on the move . . . I was surprised that Jesus cared about the “leftovers”. I always pictured Jesus as the sort of person who traveled light and always on the move. To me dealing with “leftovers” would be a hindrance . . . something that would slow one down. But not Jesus! He wanted the “leftovers” and wanted to make sure that nothing was wasted.
One of the things all of us have learned about the scriptures is that over the years their meaning changes and that we come to understand them in different ways than we once did. I think that this is one of those readings for me. Over the years I have come to learn that this means more than meets the eye. For example, most of us see this as a miracle story . . . a revelation of God. No matter how any of us explains the miracle, there is no denying that this is a miracle story. Over five thousand are heartedly fed off of five loaves and two fish with twelve baskets of leftovers once the feasting is done. That is miraculous.
Yet is it a story about miracles or is it about something else? Knowing Jesus, it could be about a lot of things. As I read the story in the context of the situation it is told, I have come to the conclusion that it is not so much about the miracle but those who shared in the miracle.
As the story goes and the disciples had been traveling down the road when they notice a great crowd following them. Jesus and the disciples stop, sit down, and wait . . . they wait until the crowd shows up. Jesus then tells the disciples that these people need to be fed. Taken back by such a comment the disciples get realistic on Jesus telling him that it is an impossible task that would cost at least a half-year of wages for the people to get even one bite. What a nuisance these people have become. One of the disciples pipes up about a boy with five loaves of bread and two fish. Then the disciple laments that there are so many to feed.
Now no one enjoys unexpected guests for dinner . . . especially not when over five thousand show up to eat. The natural response would be to send the people away. That’s what the disciples wanted to do in the Matthew version of this story. Jesus tells the disciples to have the people sit down, takes the food from the boy, blesses it and tells the disciples to distribute the food. He also adds that they can eat as much of it as they wanted. The end result is that the people are fed and there are plenty of “leftovers”.
Everyone was impressed. I must admit that miracle impresses me. But as I have gotten older what impresses me even more is that Jesus wanted to pick up the “leftovers”. How symbolic of the life and ministry of Jesus. Jesus dealt with the “leftovers” . . . he ministered to and lived with those who had been consumed, used, and spit out when it was all said and done. He ministered to and lived with those who were so often considered to be the “outsiders” . . . those who were not worthy enough to belong to the community. He dealt with outcasts, sinners, and the lost. People who would probably be considered “leftovers” when it comes to life. People no one cared about, wanted nothing to do with, and saw as a burden. People who were often told to go away.
Yet, Jesus cared about the “leftovers” telling his disciples to “let nothing be wasted.”
Collect the “leftovers” and let nothing be wasted. I am not going to pretend that all of us have the same definition and understanding of what a “leftover” is or who we would consider to be those who are on the outside looking in. My wife and I have definite opinions of what is a “leftover”. The things that she would save and the things that I would save are not the same. For example, meat . . . I hate throwing away meat. I say bag it up, throw it in the refrigerator, and life is good. At least it is until I finally get around to wanting to eat that meat several days later and discover it nowhere in the refrigerator. When I ask where it is, I am always told that it had gotten old, so it was thrown away. Needless to say, I am always disappointed when this happens.
Dana, on the other hand, is probably like George Carlin when it comes to “leftovers”. George Carlin says: “Leftovers make you feel good twice. First, when you put it away, you feel thrifty and intelligent: ‘I’m saving food!’ Then a month later when blue hair is growing out of the ham, and you throw it away, you feel really intelligent: ‘I’m saving my life!’”
Whatever the case, it should be understood that we all have our own understandings about what is a “leftover” and what is an outcast or person on the outside looking in. On the same hand, we have Jesus reminding us that no matter how we understand it, we are not to let anything go to waste . . . especially those who are the children of God . . . of which we all are. All of us. All of us . . . inside and out . . . are the children of God. None of us is to be denied the love and grace of God. This is how Jesus lived his life. This is how he ministered. Nothing was left to waste.
Now none of us would probably think that the issue of “leftovers” is a radical idea. Yet with Jesus and this idea of letting nothing go to waste, we are confronted with a new way of looking at things—especially people. It changes how we see everyone and makes us consider the potential and value of each person. And, it makes us have to consider how we treat other people. Those who we see on the outside suddenly become valuable and vital parts of the whole picture . . . necessary to see the whole and holy . . . to know the Kingdom of God.
In that way this is radical. Blows us over. Rocks our boat. Jesus is that way. Our story this morning shows us this. Shows us how Jesus comes out of the storm that shakes our lives and moves us forward in the journey of faith. Remember how once the feast was done the disciples set off across the lake for Capernaum? The journey starts out peaceful and calm but soon the winds pick up and the waves grew rough. Even as experience mariners, the storm concerned the disciples. Anxiety and fear sank in. Then to add to it they witness a ghostly figure approaching the boat . . . walking on water. The writer tells us that were frightened.
Following Jesus can be like that. Following Jesus can make us anxious . . . can make us frightened, especially when he is constantly pushing the boundaries of our understanding of faith, service, love, and compassion . . . or who our neighbors are . . . who we are to love. Yet out of the chaos Jesus assures us that it is okay. Tells us to not be afraid. Moves us on down the road towards our destination of establishing God’s Kingdom.
That’s how it is when we follow Jesus . . . he opens up new ways of understanding of what it means to be a person of faith. Ways that often challenge our understanding of being faithful. Yet, he tells us to not be afraid. Kind of makes you think of “leftovers” in a different light. Nothing is to be wasted . . . not food, not people. Especially people. Think about that when you are debating whether or not to throw out that leftover squash or zucchini. God speaks to us in many ways, even “leftovers” . . . Amen.
