The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-02-29
A SATURDAY SERMON.

When they were filled. he said unto his
disciples. Gather up the fragments that
remain, that nothing be 1ost.-John 6:12.
New York's famous bread line"
toward the turn on Broadway, near
Grace church, in which line hundreds
of hungry men stand at midnight on
the chance Of receiving a stale loaf of
bread, appeals to the popular imagina-
ton. 1t has its counterpart at other
points in New York city, and In 9TH
er great cities of the land; especially
ing dread Hne," is that horde of
more than five thousand hungry per-
sons who were lined up and fed on a
hillside overlooking the Sea of Galilee
by the great Nazarene teacher. two
thousands years ago. Picturesque, I'M
pressive, moving, miraculous-the
scene has gripped the Imagination Of
painter, student and people, even as it
laid such strong hold of the minds OF
all four evangelists that they have in
common only this one of all the mir
acles OF old.
AS the hurried, harried, over
wrought business man Of today seeks
a few days of rest at mountain, lake
or seaside, so Christ and his followers
planned a quiet retreat" for them
selves. One reason was that the
twelve had just returned from a tax
ing missionary tour of Galilee. Their
leader had said, Come We yourselves
apart into desert place and rest a
while; for there were many coming
NJ Iai~
much as to eat" The Importance of
quiet times in the life of his servants
was clearly perceived by Jesus: and
these words are still in force.
There was another reason why
Christ sought seclusion from the clam
orous, uncomprehending crowd. A
great sorrow had come upon him, an
event of deep significance to his life
and to his ministry. His kinsman and
herald, John the Baptist. had been de-
capitated by Herod. What this meant
to the sensitive spirit of Mary's Son
even dull imagination can partially
comprehend. He had lost his great
witnesser and his friend. Because Of
him John had died. This great sorrow
overshadowed his spirit, making of
slight importance the fact that he, too,
had to fee from the jealous Herod's
Jurisdiction.
AS a wounded deer seeks the
densest wood. SO the smitten heart Of
Jesus sought solitude in his grief
Right here entered another duty, and
a higher; for even He may not cherish
his own sorrow above the worlds
need. True grief is SO holy that it
dare not be selfish. The multitude
pursued Jesus, whose hand and
heart had been proved to be of such
he1pfulness to mems varied needs.
Their motive was selfish, but their
want was real The miracles had
brought to each man a hint of pos
sible succor for his own peculiar
need
That spectacle was irresistible. All
thought Of his own grief and of the
needs of himself and followers was sub
merged. in the mind Of Jesus, by the
sicknesses, griefs and ignorance of this
claimant host.
There is a great deal of nebulous hu-
manitarianisn in the world today. Some
would offer it as a substitute for Chris
tianity. Let 1t be remembered that 1t
was in Christ that this spirit was man
ifested; and that even today it Is best
found among those who bear his name.
Where his spirit does not permeate and
dominate, the great works of charity
and benevolence will be looked for in
vain. Heathenism builds no asyluns,
hospitals or soup kitchens: neither does
agnosticism or infldenty. Then. as now,
human need touches deeply the divine
heart
Where help is, the needy resort, be it
a soup-kftchen for the hungry, doc
tors office for the sick, church for the
spiritually needy. That is why the mis-
cellaneous multitude, with their vary
ing wants. logged the footsteps of
Jesus. And. as all humanity is tether-
ed by short chain to the elemental
needs of nature. all the assortment of
desires that this crowd pressed upon
the Bountiful One, resolved themselves
later into a desire for food.
Every year is witnessed the wonder
Of grain of wheat made into many,
plus stalks and roots and leaves. That
is called, and the subsequent processes
in mill and kitchen that produce the
bread we eat, natural and such a
quick increase as went on in this pres
ent instance, when five loaves fed five
thousand, miracle
Jesus could multiply loaves-yet he
carefully saved the food left over from
the feast. The pinch of today is 6
bitter reminder to many Of the waste OF
yesterday. Thrift is not a denial O,
faith, but an expression Of it.
CROOKS SHOULD STAY HERE.
Witzoff, the bigamist, who left behind