In the Gospel we just heard we meet Jesus and the people who are following him because of the amazing things he has said and done. He fed 5000 people with just 5 loaves and 2 fishes and then he walked on water across the stormy lake to join his disciples in the boat. People were beginning to realise that Jesus was something special, in fact he was miraculous! They knew he was the answer to the longings of their hearts and he was the one who could give them what they needed.

And so they come looking for him – hungry, helpless, many of them homeless. They come looking for more of that delicious bread. 

Yesterday at our Harvest Craft Session we made some homemade bread. It’s wonderful to do – kneading the dough, and shaping it into loaves, or in our case, making some little plaited rolls – the dough feels alive, springy to the touch, stretchy and yeasty. And then the smell of it cooking makes your mouth water and your tummy rumble!

Every day we pray that we will be given our daily bread; bread for our bodies to keep us alive. 

Most of us are lucky enough to have enough bread and other good things to eat, and at harvest time we celebrate the wheat that grew in the fields, the farmers who tended the crops that have produced the ears of corn from which flour is ground. Add water, salt, oil or butter and yeast and hey presto – our daily bread , yum yum! 

Jesus says to the people, “This bread is good for filling your hungry tummies, but there is an even better kind of bread that feeds your souls.” Jesus says “I am the bread of life, and this bread stops you feeling hungry ever again.”

Its not bread like this – delicious as it may be – that you eat and it is gone. It’s the bread that we share in this service called the Eucharist, which fills us up with Jesus himself! Eucharist means thanksgiving. Today is our thanksgiving for the Harvest, but every Sunday, and every time we share in bread in communion it is a thanksgiving for the gift of Jesus himself. 

And Harvest is all about gifts. Our Harvest gifts say thank you for the good things we have to eat, and for the gifts of creation, the fruits of the earth, like this pumpkin here, amazing fruits and vegetables that are all so good to eat. 

We say thank you for all that we have, and we remember those who have so little. Our Harvest gifts go to the Food Bank so we can share what we have generously with others – and thank you for all that you have brought today.

But why is it that so many people go hungry when it seems there is so much food, so many good gifts that God gives us? 

To answer this question I’m going to need some help – 7 volunteers to do something called the Harvest Shuffle. 

Volunteers line up each holding a letter

So we have 7 letters which spell out the word HARVEST

But I think there is something hidden in the letters….

Because of our harvest we HAVE food to EAT and TEA

Volunteers ‘shuffle’ with their letters to spell out some other words…

And from EAST to VEST (groan!!) over all the EARTH –

People’s HARVEST comes at a different time of year.

Unfortunately some harvests are not always good. Sometimes they fail.

Maybe too much HEAT or too many TARES  (an old word for weeds.)

When this happens it ends in TEARS and people can even STARVE.

Some people have more than they need, while others do not have enough to EAT.

Now there is one more word that will help us understand what we are supposed to do with our HARVEST?

Any thoughts? You can shout it out.

SHARE

Sharing is about caring for each other. And we can share all the blessings that God gives; our food, our time, our love, our prayers – for all these things are gifts of God to us. And if we shared and cared a little more for our beautiful earth, then there might be a better HARVEST for everyone.

When Jesus fed 5000 people it all started with a little child sharing their lunch! Sometimes we only have a little to share, but God can work miracles if we just trust him with what we can give. And that little child cared enough for others to be fed too 

So the message of HARVEST (one more time!) is to SHARE and care for each other. To care for the earth, it’s precious and needs our care. To share what we have – like our Harvest Gifts. And to give thanks for all God’s goodness to us for he gives us the bread of life.

Thank you, Lord, for the Harvest. Thank you for your goodness, for all the fruit and vegetables and the wonderful things that grow.

Amen.

Service: Reverend Michelle Dalliston. 2nd October 2022.

(St John The Baptist Church Peterborough UK)

Referenced Scripture: St John 6: 25-35