July 12....blessed and broken

Mark 6:41 “Jesus raised his eyes to heaven, pronounced a blessing, broke the loaves, and gave them to the disciples to distribute.” (NAB)

"He took the 5 loaves and 2 fish, lifted his face to heaven in prayer, blessed, broke and gave the bread to the disciples, and the disciples in turn gave it to the people.” (MSG)

 Heavenly Father,

Jesus “lifted his face to heaven in prayer.” How often do we look up in prayer? We have developed a habit of looking down in humility and repentance. But Jesus has been broken for us and now is the time for looking up! We are saved! Our eyes should rise upward in thankfulness! Our heads should lift as the weight of sin is lifted! Our hearts should soar in the freedom of grace! Look up to the Father who sent his only Son to die for us! Look up with our hands full of “loaves and fishes” and say thank You! Lift our focus to the sun and bask in grace, mercy, forgiveness, and freedom from the darkness of death and sin! 

I have a field of sunflowers outside my front door. They got their name because it is believed that they lift their heavy heads and track the sun…..they follow it, always wanting to lift their faces towards the light. We too, need to lift our faces upward! Stop wallowing in the sins of the past. Jesus forgave them. Stop remembering the bad we did, the old burdens, and remember the grace, the “bread” we hold in our hands! Jesus blessed the bread…..his brokenness for our wholeness…..and passed it out freely to the disciples, the followers. Enough for everyone! Come one, come all! Take the bread. 

Disciples not only follow, they take what Jesus gives them and pass it on. We are His Church. We are the ones who distribute all of His precious gifts to the rest of the world. His first disciples passed it on, and the work has continued for over 2000 years! We pass on every bit of silliness that comes to us in an e-mail without a 2nd thought. This is so much more important! This is the Bread of Life…..blessed, broken, and enough for all! Stop looking down! Lift your face to heaven…..bask in the sun! Say, “thank You, Father!” amen.