Nehemiah 9:16-20 Psalm 78:1-29 or 78:14-20, 23-2 Romans 8:35-39 Matthew 14:13-21
Jim Klassen was a very special kind of person. I was fortunate enough to meet him in 1995 and we became friends almost immediately. He was somewhat older than me - not by that many years - bur for some reason we "hit it off" extremely well.
Jim was a trainer for the Franklin Covey Company. He worked originally for Franklin Quest and taught classes on the Franklin planner. When Franklin Quest merged with the Covey Company in 1997, Jim remained in the new company as a trainer in What Matters Most, a time personal management seminar.
Jim taught these seminars to companies and organizations across the Upper Midwest. He was from Huron, S.D. He came to our training center in St. Cloud monthly and taught What Matters Most to 30 to 40 people every month.
He was a very positive and upbeat person who was able to talk to all ages and all kinds of people - young and old. I know each of you would like him - he was genuine, and sincere and down to earth. He had a good sense of humor and a real love of people.
Jim taught these personal/time management courses full time for my organization until 1998 when he learned he had prostate cancer.
He was in a very conflicted position because he really didn't want to quit teaching/training in What Matters Most. He continued teaching sporadically when he was able to do it.
Jim was like the people in the lakeshore in today's Gospel. Many were sick with the horrible diseases of the time. Jesus was tired and wanted to be alone but when he saw the crowd he had compassion on them. Don't forget they had followed him on foot from the surrounding towns!
Jesus doesn't send them away. On the contrary, he says "Bring them here to me." Bring me the five loaves of bread and two fishes.
Jesus takes the bread, blesses and breaks it and it is the bread that is distributed to the people. It is obvious that this account contains Eucharistic images (of Communion).
The sick on the lakeshore were in a very precarious position. There are so many like them living in our very own country, State and yes, Paynesville and Sauk Centre today in 2002. Our cities and towns are filled with homeless people, and people with whom we interact on a daily basis who would be desperate within a few weeks if they lost their jobs. There are people suffering from HIV and the ravages of AIDS and are dependent on their medications to keep them alive. There are people who are alone, lonely and depressed. This Gospel and its Communion images are about those people but it's also about YOU and me! All of us need to be aware of the fragile nature of our lives! We need to rely more on the compassion of Jesus and to be more compassionate ourselves-
All of us should come to Communion - this most simple of meals - just bread and wine - with an awe and reverence for how something as simple as some bread and a little wine can heal us - can heal our body, mind and soul!
Picture yourself on that lake with Jesus - on that very day - observing hoping, hearing Jesus' words, receiving his healing and loving touch, learning that God loves you and me beyond our most human comprehension. God loves you for who you are and without reservation!!!
God loves Jim Klassen and Jim lived his life in that manner. His prostate cancer spread into his leg. Jim had to go in for extensive radiation and chemotherapy. He never complained and he never wavered in his faith in Christ. In 1999 things seemed to be under control; at least they hadn't worsened. Jim was able to see his son married at Izaty's Resort not very far from here in Onamia on Lake Mille Lacs.
Jim's positive attitude and courage was beyond description. He touched me and hundreds of people along the way with his quick smile, wit and a kind word for all whom he met. His E mails were a testament to his faith.
Things took a turn for the worse in the year 2000 when Jim developed jaw cancer and had difficulty walking. He began an even more intense regimen of radiation and chemotherapy to combat these developments.
In the end, Jim's body gave out. Jim wanted to continue fighting but he just had no more strength left in his body to do so. He died in his sleep on July 6, 2002.
A miracle took place in Jim's life through his own example of living out his faith in God, and his touching of so many people he would never have even touched - the hundreds of people who learned of his courageous fight in his seminars to the many people among his family, friends and colleagues who witnessed this miracle of a consistent faith in a loving and compassionate God.
With Jesus there is enough, enough to drink and eat, enough to care for and heal and enough to teach others about him.
Yes, Jim died but he died with a faith so strong that he passed it on in more ways than we will ever come to know! His legacy was one of a full and abundant life in Christ. His basket overflowed with many leftovers.
Maybe there are seemingly hopeless situations in your life whether it be serious illness, depression, financial problems or the like. Won't you let Jesus in your heart today and let him fill you up abundantly with the power of his love and grace with a little bit of bread and a sip of wine? I think you'll be very satisfied as there will be many leftovers in those baskets for you to share as Jim did with all he came in contact with those last years of his life. I hope you take Jesus up on it.
AMEN.