Did you see the cartoon where Mary instructs the magi, “The main point of this whole thing is to promote shopping!”
It reminds to me consider once again my attitudes toward scarcity and abundance. In John’s gospel, Jesus promises us life, and that abundantly. A sense of abundance, gratitude, enoughness are pieces of God’s realm. But the consumer society encourages my inclinations toward scarcity/deprivation thinking. The demon of Yahneedmor encourages me to believe that purchasing just a little more will finally fulfill all my needs and silence all my fears. Scarcity will be filled up and I will dwell in a permanent state of abundance. Unfortunately, reality doesn’t operate like this fantasy.
Jesus tackles the problem of scarcity thinking in the feeding of the 5,000. The disciples are tired, overwhelmed by the size of the hungry crowd. Jesus’ unexpected demand and their own lack of imagination throw them into panic: “Where are we to get enough bread in the desert to feed so great a crowd?” Jesus responds with the question that urges them to take notice, count, pay attention to what is already available, recognize that it is enough. In the midst of constricting fear, Jesus creates the spaciousness to form a grateful heart.
God of compassion, in whom I live and move and have my being, be the goal of my journey; be the rest along the way. Let my soul take refuge from crowding turmoil of worldly thought beneath the shelter of your wings. Let my heart, this sea of restless waves, find peace in you, O God.
