Trinity Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)

Sermons 

Title: "This is Our Work" 

Text: John 6:24-35

These days, in the modern world, we have a lot of trouble in dealing with miracles. And not all of the "miracles" that we celebrate really seem important in the long run. For example, a recent movie titled Miracle (2004) tells the story of the surprising victory of the U.S. men’s ice hockey team over the seemingly invincible Soviet hockey team in 1980. This so-called "Miracle on Ice" hardly changed the world, no matter how much of a "feel good" story it was for American sports fans at the moment.

On the other hand, one of the great "feel good" movies of all time was Miracle on 34th Street (1947, and again in 1994). The wonderful cast – including Maureen O’Hara, John Payne, Edmund Gwenn, Natalie Wood, and William Frawley – dealt with the problems created when a nice old man named Kris Kringle claimed to be the real Santa Claus, and eventually ended up in court for an insanity hearing. In the end, Kris Kringle carried the day – thanks to thousands of pieces carried into the court room by the U.S. Post Office. As you may recall, the heart of the movie comes through the character of young Susan Walker, played by eight-year-old Natalie Wood. Raised by her mother (played by Maureen O’Hara) to be rationale about everything, eventually young Susan declares, "I believe... I believe... Even though it's silly, I believe."

The contrast between these two movies suggests that a miracle – or, at least, a movie about a miracle – ought to make everyone involved in the event feel good. Miracles ought not to be about winners and losers. In fact, there should be no losers in miracles. In the end, all of the participants should be filled with joy.

So, where can we find true miracles? How many of you have heard of the Children’s Miracle Network? Created in 1983, the Children’s Miracle Network is dedicated to saving and improving the lives of children by raising funds for 170 local children’s hospitals. As a fund-raising enterprise for an "alliance of premier hospitals for children," the CMN raised $250 million in the latest reporting year (2005). Their orange and yellow cardboard balloons can be seen everywhere in supermarkets, convenience stores, pharmacies, and other venues.

This week, on Thursday, August 10th, you will have another opportunity to change lives and make miracles happen. It will be Miracle Treat Day at participating Dairy Queen^® locations. Proceeds from every Blizzard^® treat purchased in the Dallas area will be donated to Children's Medical Center (http://www.childrens.com/) here in Dallas. With the hot weather we are suffering right now, I look forward to a number of miracles occurring on Thursday!

As the Children’s Miracle Network demonstrates year after year, miracles don’t just happen. The coming together of the right people, in the right place, at the right time requires dedication, persistence, and work.

And this brings us, at last, to this morning’s lectionary passage from John 6, vv. 24-35. Having taken care of feeding the five thousand, Jesus and his disciples had made their way to Capernaum, on the other side of the Sea of Galilee. When the crowd found Jesus again, and confronted him, he responded that they were looking for him for all the wrong reasons. He then went on to challenge them, saying "Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures for eternal life. . ." (v. 27).

Then the crowd replied to Jesus, "What must we do to perform the works of God?" And, in verse 29, Jesus answered them, "This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent."

But the crowd wasn’t done with him yet. They wanted a sign so that they could believe in Jesus. And they challenged him, saying "What work are you performing?" They reminded Jesus that their ancestors had been given bread from heaven to eat – not just some loaves and fishes from a little boy’s basket.

Jesus replied – and you can sense the exasperation in his voice – that the bread came not from Moses (who himself had come from a basket) but from "my father." As the manna had come down to the people, so the bread of God comes down from heaven.

The people said to him, "Sir, give us this bread always." And Jesus replied, "I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty."

It all begins with belief. The bread and the wine are here on the table, symbols of the life that God offers to all people. God demands nothing else of us, save to believe. This is how we can perform the works of God, and do what God would have us do. In the end, we believe – this is the miracle, this is our work. Amen.