Prayer: Dear Jesus, thank you for being the ultimate example of compassion, and may we show a fraction of that compassion to everyone around us, so that they may see you and your grace. Amen.
Reading: Matthew 15:29-37 (Click to read text) Stop and GROW: After reading the text, discuss/ponder the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America's Book of Faith questions, which are part of Camp Mount Luther's GROW Time with campers. QUESTION 1: What scares, confuses, challenges, or doesn’t make sense to me in this text? QUESTION 2: What delights me in this text or is my favorite part of the story? QUESTION 3: What stories or memories does this text stir in me? QUESTION 4: What is God up to in this text? Reflection: In this passage, Jesus generously and miraculously feeds a crowd of 4,000 people! Now that is an extreme act of compassion. While at Camp Mount Luther this summer, we talked about how compassion transforms community. It brings unity through humble service and common concern for each other. But there are so many small ways that we can serve others and show compassion in our communities! We don’t have to feed 4,000 people. Advent and Christmastime is a season where you see a lot of compassion in action, but there are ways to show compassion in your community all year long. During the season of Advent we are reminded of Jesus’ humble beginnings as a baby, born in a stable in Bethlehem. Jesus came as a humble baby to serve and save the world. Through small acts of service and compassion, you can let others know of the compassion that Jesus has shown you, by showing compassion to them! I love connecting to songs, and this passage reminded me of Dream Small by Josh Wilson – I encourage you to listen to the song and look at the lyrics as well. I thought this song was sweet the first time I heard it, and I was reminded of it after reading this passage because it says, “A tiny rock can make a giant fall. Yeah, five loaves and two fish’s could feed them all. So dream small.” (And yes, I know this is the version from Matthew with seven loaves, but close enough!) --Anne Harshbarger
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