Pastor: Good morning boys and girls! Let’s say good morning to our friend Sammy and see if she is there. Ready? One, two, three…Good morning, Sammy!

 

Sammy: Good morning everyone! Good to see everyone! Tell me about your summer so far? How was Vacation Bible School?

 

[Allow time for responses]

 

Pastor: I am glad that everyone is doing well and that you are having a great summer. What are some of the foods you’re enjoying this summer?

 

Sammy: Well, at the farm the grazing is delightful! There’s wonderful plants growing in abundance over the summer. I enjoy eating a lot.

 

Pastor: Me, too. I don’t graze like you, but I do eat special foods in the summer time.

 

Sammy: What kinds of foods?

 

Pastor: I eat BBQ, grilled foods, sweet corn, fresh watermelon, peaches.

 

Sammy: That all sounds delicious!

 

Pastor: Summer is a great time of year. The fresh food is in abundance and thanks to our local farmers and gardeners, there’s plenty to eat.

 

Sammy: In a week we will really get to see the abundance of food growing in our county at the County Fair! I can’t wait to go! I heard all about the fair on the farm.

 

Pastor: You know, all of this talk of food reminds me of the Gospel story for today. Jesus met with a large crowd and was healing the sick and talking with them for the day. When evening came, the people were hungry.

 

Sammy: Was there a meadow nearby?

 

Pastor: A meadow? 

 

Sammy: For grazing. 

 

Pastor: People don’t graze. They need food that’s not hay and grass.

 

Sammy: Oh. I forgot. Well, what did they eat?

 

Pastor: All the disciples had was five loaves of bread and two fish.

 

Sammy: That doesn’t sound too bad. That could feed a few people.

 

Pastor: That’s right, but Jesus wanted to feed more than 5,000 people. That’s more than a few. That’s more people than we have for church right now.

 

Sammy: Wow! How did Jesus feed all of the hungry people?

 

Pastor: Jesus blessed and broke the loaves and gave the food to the people to eat. All of the people ate and they were all full. And there were leftovers!

 

Sammy: I love leftovers!

 

Pastor: Me too! Does anyone else love leftovers?

 

[Allow time for responses]

 

Pastor: Thank you all for sharing this time with me. Jesus is God. He provides everything we need and he surely loves us. Will you all please fold your hands, bow your heads, and repeat after me? Dear Jesus, thank you for giving us good food. Thank you for miracles. Thank you for being with us and healing us. We love you. Amen.

“Then they brought Him to the place Golgotha, which is translated, Place of a Skull.  They tried to give Him wine mixed with myrrh; but He did not take it” (Mark 15:22-23).

Our Lord suffered physical pain beyond what most of us can imagine.  He suffered the spiritual rejection of all those who will continue their rebellion into the depths of hell.  He suffered the deprivation of all that sustains life in the physical body.  He did so willingly for our sake.  He reached the point where He was done.  We look, but do we begin to comprehend the depth of what sin has done?

Holy and Triune Lord, in the great mystery of Your love, I see that You went through all of this to give all who believe an opportunity to live life as You created it to be lived.  The deeper I go in thinking the more I see that You are there.  This world always stops short, for if true inquiry were made, they would all see that You are the answer for our longing.  Amidst the horror of this world, guide me to understand that You have called me to walk with You, my Creator, Lord, and God.

Lord Jesus, You took upon Yourself the sin of all of us.  You suffered in ways that I am unable to imagine.  You did so willingly in love for us whom You have created.  Lead me to understand more clearly each day the breadth and depth of Your love.  Guide me to live into the life You are offering me, thinking as You give me the ability to think, and living in the way that You set before me.  Amen.