Satisfied

For Wednesday,

 October 17th

Then Jesus called the

twelve together and 

gave them power and authority over all 

demons and to cure diseases, and he sent

them out to proclaim

the kingdom of God 

and to heal. He said 

to them, ‘Take nothing

 for your journey, no 

staff, nor bag, nor 

bread, nor money

—not even an extra

 tunic. Whatever house

 you enter, stay there,

 and leave from there. Wherever they do not welcome you, as you 

are leaving that town

 shake the dust off your feet as a testimony against them.’ They departed and went 

through the villages, bringing the good news and curing diseases everywhere.

 Now Herod the ruler heard about all that had taken place, and he was perplexed,

 because it was said by some that John had been raised from the dead, by some that

 Elijah had appeared, and by others that one of the ancient prophets had arisen. 

Herod said, ‘John I beheaded; but who is this about whom I hear such things?’ 

And he tried to see him.

 On their return the apostles told Jesus all they had done. He took them with him

 and withdrew privately to a city called Bethsaida. When the crowds found out

 about it, they followed him; and he welcomed them, and spoke to them about the

 kingdom of God, and healed those who needed to be cured. 

 The day was drawing to a close, and the twelve came to him and said, ‘Send the

 crowd away, so that they may go into the surrounding villages and countryside,

 to lodge and get provisions; for we are here in a deserted place.’ But he said to 

them, ‘You give them something to eat.’ They said, ‘We have no more than five 

loaves and two fish—unless we are to go and buy food for all these people.’

 For there were about five thousand men. And he said to his disciples, ‘Make them

 sit down in groups of about fifty each.’ They did so and made them all sit down. 

And taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven, and blessed 

and broke them, and gave them to the disciples to set before the crowd. And all ate

 and were filled. What was left over was gathered up, twelve baskets of broken 

pieces. Luke 9:1-17

A friend of ours said often, "walking down the street, fat, dumb and happy," a

phrase that was heard often where he grew up. It was a statement of satisfaction,

contentment and the lack of worry. It was the embodiment of living with no

worries, no fears and living as lacking nothing. We too often are bombarded by

other peoples' stress, anxieties and fear, especially in this election season. We 

are reminded that God is the author of fullness and satisfaction. In God's

economy,our lives can full and complete right where we are.

Jesus instructs his disciples as they go out to minister among the villages. He

tells them to be rich and full, right where they are and with what they have, 

that God will provide them with food and shelter. They come back enthused

but quickly forget when the day comes to a close and the crowds were hungry.

Like us, they were overwhelmed by the needs around us. We are reminded

to trust God when life presses us down, when we are overwhelmed by need 

and feel lacking in all things. We are promised fullness.

Today, I ask God to help me trust and have faith in the fullness promised

daily. May we walk with confidence daily, knowing we are being provided

for, even as we are surrounded by crisis, transition and anxiety. May we be

agents of God's peace.