FDI

Somewhere along the line, I learned about this family verbal code I will now describe. When hosting a dinner-gathering of friends or extended family, if they had more people attending than expected, the matriarch would discretely disseminate to the household members “FHB”. This meant, “Family, hold back! Hold back on serving up food to yourself until you are sure all the guests have enough.” Most of the time it worked out all right, and there was enough for all to be served. It was a protection against the embarrassment of scarcity.

We have two stories from the scriptures coming up Sunday that signal our worship and service are to a God of abundance, not scarcity. In the Gospel reading, we all know, there are several versions of times Jesus fed the multitudes with the bread and fish on hand. The story that caught my interest is the one from the Second Book of Kings that describes the ministry of Elisha the Prophet. It serves as a foreshadowing of the miracles of Jesus in Galilee several centuries later. The setting is even more fun to say than “Galilee”: a town in Ephraim pronounced BA΄-AL-SHAL΄-E-SHA. With only a limited amount of food, a hundred people were fed:

A man came from Baal-shalishah, bringing food from the first fruits to the man of God: twenty loaves of barley and fresh ears of grain in his sack. Elisha said, “Give it to the people and let them eat.” But his servant said, “How can I set this before a hundred people?” So he repeated, “Give it to the people and let them eat, for thus says the Lord, ‘They shall eat and have some left.’” He set it before them, they ate, and had some left, according to the word of the Lord. (2 Kings 4:42-44)

It is not as surprising a feed as when Jesus fed five thousand with five loaves and a few fish, but it is a sign of the open hand of the powerful and gracious God, whom Elijah serves. The food does not run out, and it is noticeable to those who could not have expected such an outcome.

Think about our life in Christ as life within the powerful abundance of God. Remaining connected as a family to the one who compassionately feeds the hungry multitude. The love of God, the peace and mercy of God does not run out. In this family, we are not whispering “FHB”; there is no need to hold back. We can broadcast “FDI”—Family, dig in. We have our fill of the grace of God and there are baskets and baskets of surplus to share. Hooray for leftovers!

Sharing is the best part of being the family of God. Honestly, we exist for the sake of others. We have a hymn that has us praying, “Strengthen for service, Lord, the hands that holy things have taken” (i.e. Holy Communion). And remember that Archbishop William Temple of Canterbury said, “The Church is the only society that exists for the benefit of those who are not its members." There is no scarcity of love with God: give and give, all you can. It keeps on coming. “The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness, O Lord. (Lamentations 3: 22-23)

So Family, do not hold back; Dig in! And share, always share!