This late 16th century painting by Marten van Valckenborch is titled Feeding the Five Thousand. The artist has kindly recorded the Gospel Chapter in the sky — John Chapter 6. There's a lot going on in the painting: there are the thousands of people sitting on the ground waiting for something to eat. There are men haying fields on the far side of the winding stream. There is a hilltop city on the left and another far off in the distance on the right. But dead center, in lovely colors, we see a moment frozen in time.
"One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brothers, said to him, 'There is a young boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish; but what are they among so many?'" John 6:8,9
Let's not think Jesus just took the food from the boy and that was it. I imagine Jesus immediately took an interest in the boy. Perhaps he asked him why he had come out such a distance. Maybe he asked about the boy's mother who had sent him off with lunch. Of course, Jesus said, "Hello and who are you? Thank for sharing." Maybe Jesus told the boy what he planed to do with the food. Here we see the precise moment — when Andrew makes the introduction.
Andrew seems to have a penchant for making introductions. Do you remember these Gospel verses?
"Now among those who went up to worship at the feast were some Greeks. So these came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and said to him, 'Sir, we wish to see Jesus.' Philip went and told Andrew; Andrew went with Philip and they told Jesus..." John 12: 20-22
Andrew is good at making introductions and connecting people — even connections of a most interesting sort — it's Greeks who want to meet Jesus — non Jews. Someone else might have been suspicious. Someone else might have said, "Jesus is busy and doesn't have time for this."
The Evangelist (John) is interested in this aspect of Andrew. We first see it way back in Chapter 1:42-44.
"One of the two who heard John (the Baptist) speak, and followed him, was Andrew, Simon Peter's brother. He first found his brother Simon, and said him, 'We have found the Messiah' (which means Christ). He brought him to Jesus."
Andrew repeatedly introduces people to Jesus. We're Christians, and we were introduced to Jesus at Baptism. We met him in the water. I remember seeing a young mother standing in the vestibule of the church with her day old newborn. Perhaps the baby was already fussing or she was just prepared. But as the Mass began she took the infant's right hand leading him in the sign of the cross. Talk about introducing someone to Jesus.
I often have a deeply felt sense of gratitude that my parents brought me to Baptism for that Christ introduction. Indeed, as a young priest I took the subway up to the Bronx to the Church where I was baptized and got a sexton to open the place up so I could see and appreciate the font of meeting.
But I think there is more. The other day I saw a bumper sticker that read: "The most radical thing we can do is introduce people to one another." Radical means rooted. The most rooted or basic thing we can do is introduce people to one another. The Christian spiritual life is not lived in isolation. Why bother with introductions? Because Christ has given us a way that is about relationships. Indeed, all of the epistles we hear each Sunday morning were originally letters written to small communities of people who knew each other — people who had been introduced to each other.
Some might resent or resist hearing this, but knowing each other is hardly possible when we stake out the same pew every Sunday — some for a lifetime. When I suggested we change our seating in church now and again so to better introduce ourselves and get to know others, you'd think I'd suggested getting rid of the tabernacle. Such a resistant fuss!
Introducing people to one another — a small step into the Gospel life each day.
