Have you ever felt overwhelmed by the enormity of suffering in the world? You may not even need to have such a large scope to feel overwhelmed. What about the suffering in your own community, your own family?
In the story of Jesus feeding 5000 people in a desolate, empty place, we see the disciples overwhelmed. They have little enough for their own supper and the only thing they can think to do is to send the crowd away, send them home, hungry.
Jesus, of course, has another solution, another course of action. This Sunday, we will look at Jesus response to the needs of these people, under the shadow of the murder of John the Baptist. (Matthew 14:13-21) We will wonder at his compassion, and recognize that "send them away" is not an acceptable response to overwhelming problems, then or now.
