Which shall We Choose? - March 31, 2025
Today’s Readings - AM Psalm 89:1-18; Jer. 16:10-21; Rom. 7:1-12; John 6:1-15
Deep down I think we all know we can’t have it all. However, out of fear of not having enough we obtain more and more, even though in exchange we give up the opportunity of getting something else. If we work enough to buy the expensive car, we give up time with our family. The exchange happens everywhere. Scarcity is not just a physical limitation. Scarcity also affects our thinking and feeling. When I was a new mom, I remember looking at my infant daughter and wondering how I could possibly love another child as much as I loved her. It felt as though I would run out of love if I tried to spread it too far. Of course, when my next three children were born, I loved them just as much as my first. There is always enough love to go around.
It’s easy, however, to be convinced that there’s only a limited amount of certain things. Subconsciously we all fall into this trap. Recently I realized we had several bottles of our favorite salsa – we can only eat one at a time and that takes days. We don’t need three jars. This notion of scarcity has been studied a great deal. Walter Brueggemann, a theologian and author, believes this fear of not enough of what we need is a myth he calls the “Myth of Scarcity.” As a result, there’s a sense that we need more and more, that there will never be enough. This can ultimately lead to a selfish desire to hold on to what resources we have and give less and less to our neighbors.
In Genesis I our scriptures begin with praise for God’s abundant generosity. Later Jesus proclaims the abundance of grace, forgiveness for all who believe. However, Brueggemann, believes that Christians find themselves torn between the insatiable desire to have more and the belief in the abundance of God’s grace. Do we adhere to the Myth of Scarcity or believe in the abundance our scriptures proclaim? Which will we choose?
In today’s gospel, we have this conflict of beliefs acted out. The disciples do not believe there could be enough to feed the crowd that has followed them and Jesus in his wisdom, knows they still have no clue who he is or what he’s capable of accomplishing. Deep down, the disciples still don’t know much about Jesus accept that he is charismatic and has a remarkable impact on people to the extent that he attracts crowds of followers.
Jesus demonstrates that for those who follow him and believe, for those who have faith, there will always be enough. Enough to eat, enough love, enough forgiveness, enough healing, enough of what is needed to subsist. On another occasion Jesus puts it this way, “Don't be anxious, because everything you need will be given to you." Implied in his advice is this, ”But you must decide.”
The hard fact about this Myth of Scarcity is that, in truth as a nation we have more than we need. At least some of us do. Unfortunately, this fear of not enough creates greed and an attitude that interferes with helping those who don’t have enough. If we were more generous, if we were more inclined to share, everyone could have enough.
Joshua reminds the Israelites, of God's generosity, and then says, "I don't know about you, but I and my house will choose the Lord." Sharing our abundance may be difficult but nothing is impossible for God. None of us knows what risks God's spirit may empower us to take. Through faith and God’s grace my hope is that the Creator will empower us to trust his generosity, so that all may be “satisfied.”
Faithfully,
Sally+
Questions for Reflection - From which areas of your life do you find it the hardest to share? Your time, compassion, love, money? Has it ever occurred to you that we need to make a choice between God and the little gods of our lives? What will we choose?