May the words of my mouth and the meditation of our hearts be pleasing in your sight, O Lord, our Rock and our Redeemer. Amen.

When Jesus heard what had happened, he withdrew by boat privately to a solitary place. Hearing of this, the crowds followed him on foot from the towns. When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them and healed their sick. As evening approached, the disciples came to him and said, "This is a remote place, and it's already getting late. Send the crowds away, so they can go to the villages and buy themselves some food." Jesus replied, "They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat." "We have here only five loaves of bread and two fish," they answered. "Bring them here to me," he said. And he directed the people to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves. Then he gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the people. They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over. The number of those who ate was about five thousand men, besides women and children (Matthew 14:13-21)

In Christ's name and to his glory, dear friends: Today we see Jesus go off to a solitary place, away from the crowd. He is not all alone, but the 12 Apostles are with him. This separation reminds us of the separation that exists between the world and Jesus & his believers. I am not of this world, Jesus said to his heavenly Father. Nor are my believers. (John 17) Believers are "sanctified"-set apart by God from the world to be part of his family. So let's go with Jesus to his solitary place today, away from the world. That is where we belong for God through faith has made us different than the world. JOIN JESUS IN HIS SOLITARY PLACE.

See our real need with him. Jesus went off to his solitary place with his disciples this time because he had received some bad news-when Jesus heard what had happened he withdrew... The bad news was that Herod had executed John the Baptist, and John's followers had come to Jesus with their sad news. This death, like all deaths, reminded Jesus of mankind's greatest malady from which Jesus had come to rescue us. It was not sickness and poverty. Yes, Jesus did relieve these for people while he was here; but that relief was not his greatest gift. These troubles are but symptoms of the true root malady. Man's great malady is sin, and death is the ultimate reminder of sin. It was Herod's sins of adultery and pride, yes. But John the Baptist too was sinful and proof of that was his death. As God tells us in another place--sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all men, because all sinned. (Romans 5) So Jesus came on his great rescue mission to save from sin. As God Word says: Jesus shared in our humanity so that by his death he might destroy him who holds the power of death--that is, the devil--and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death. (Hebrews 2)

The world just doesn't see sin as its big malady. The world feels that if we had a little more daily bread than we have, we wouldn't worry anymore. It feels that if we divided up daily bread more evenly so that all have the same, we wouldn't be jealous anymore. The world thinks that if we just get to know each other better we wouldn't hate anymore. It just refuses to believe that the problem is the sinful heart that does not fear and trust God and that is selfish and only concerned with self. And the crowds were characteristic of worldly ideas that day. The Gospel of John speaking of this same story tells us that after Jesus fed them they wanted to make him king by force. The people thought: If we just had more and easier obtained food we would always be safe, happy, content and live at peace. The next day Jesus would say, I tell you the truth, you are looking for me, not because you saw miraculous signs but because you ate the loaves and had your fill. Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. (John 6) Your problem is not "what will we eat this day" but "what of our sin that offends our God?"

Let's go away with Jesus today again to his solitary place. Let's not be like the crowd that sees Jesus only as a meal ticket or someone who can give us a life of ease and comfort or relieve some temporary trouble. What good would it be for us to be wealthy and healthy on the last day but to still be covered with sin and be condemned for eternity? It's not that Jesus doesn't care about our earthly problem. He does and is helping in every need. But Satan would have temporary troubles keep us from having the eternal blessings of God. Let's leave the world and see, along with Jesus, our great need for forgiveness. Let's confess that often we too see him as a "bread king". While we're alone with him here, away from the world and its foolishness, let's each quietly, personally seek his forgiveness. As surely as he gave food for the stomach that day, he gladly gives us his forgiveness today-more than enough to make us righteous. He truly is our Savior.

See God's power with him. And while we're away from the world, alone with Jesus today, let's also see God's power along with him. The world doesn't see God's power. It only sees its own meager resources and limited ability. Even the 12, the believers, are blind to the power of God that day. We often are too. They see only the problem and not the ability of the Almighty to solve the problem. Send them away; we cannot feed them all, the disciples said. John in his Gospel gives us some of the dialog. Philip said: Eight months' wages would not buy enough bread for each one to have a bite! Philip was "needs" oriented. We have to get a handle on the budget-how much is this going to cost? Andrew said, Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish, but how far will they go among so many? Andrew was "supply" oriented. We only have what people will give; that's all we can count on. Neither saw God's power, only the need and what they could procure with their own efforts.

Though bodily with them Jesus' heart and mind were worlds away from this feeble way of thinking. He's God's perfect Son and knows who he is and what his Father is. They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat. He said. We have a problem, but our help is in the name of the Lord who made heaven and earth. (Psalm 121) He who made the earth can surely feed a few thousand people. And not only is he able, he is also willing for the eyes of all look to him and he gives them food at the proper time. He opens his had and satisfies the desires of every living thing. (Psalm 145) Ah, the perfect trust that Jesus alone possesses-trust that the Father can help and that he will help as is best in the situation.

Let us go with him to that solitary place-that place of trust in the power of God. Let us confess how often we are like the 12-seeing only the problem, budgeting the need, analyzing the resources on hand, but blind to the power of God. While we're alone with him here, away from the world and its foolishness, let's each quietly, personally seek his forgiveness. As surely as he gave food for the stomach that day, he gladly gives us his forgiveness today-more than enough to make us righteous. Let's ask him also to keep us away from the world, close to him and his perfect vision of God's power and perfect trust in God's wisdom to help as is best for us in the situation. Let's do this so that, for example, when meet some challenge as a family, we do not limit God-you have not because you do not ask (James 4:2); and so we are calm in all difficulty-my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:19) Let's do this as a church family so that we may continue to confident in the face of budget woes. St. Paul's is not alone but with this same Jesus in his solitary place. Lord, show us your power and help us to trust you always.   Amen.