“Pe’ah” is a word that originally meant “corner.” There were actually “laws written about” the word “pe’ah.”
The Biblical Story of Ruth and Naomi even picks up “this theme.” When Ruth, the Moabite leaves her land and people behind her – she goes with Ruth (her mother-in-law) to her mother-in-laws people.
Upon arriving in Bethlehem, Ruth decided to go into the fields during the barley harvest to pick up the leftover heads of grain.
According to Leviticus 19. 9-11, “When you reap the harvest of your land, you shall not reap all the way to the “corner of your field,” or gather the gleanings of your harvest… You shall not pick your vineyard bare, or gather the fallen fruit of your vineyard; you shall leave them for the poor and the stranger; I the Lord, am your God.
Ruth was a poor widow, without any visible means of support. So she goes to the fields to gather the “pe’ah” – (to the corners) so that she might live.
This was all about “social justice” and “support for the poor” and for all those who were “down on their luck.” Grain and produce that were “left or forgotten” during the harvest were always available for the poor to glean. This was also meant for orphans, foreigners and for resident aliens.
The “corners” were “lef”t for those in dire need and in want.
“Pe’ah,” was the left over’s. Many of us – grew up eating left over’s. Mom’s never wanted to waste anything! “People were hungry in China, (you know,) and small children were dying in Africa.” Therefore, eat up! And, don’t complain!
I was shocked – when I saw the same concept being used in the feeding of the 5,000.
We all know the story, so well. We have heard it time and time again! The story of the “miraculous feeding” occupied a “central place” in the early “oral traditions” about Jesus.
It is the only “miracle” or (“sign” as John calls it,) that appears in all four of the gospel accounts.
In fact, Mark and Matthew even include the miraculous feeding twice each…
People loved this message, they loved the fact that so many were fed. Later when the Lord’s Supper was firmly established – this miracle took on Eucharistic undertones. God will provide the people said, God will provide! God always provides…
I wonder if mom’s forced their families to eat the left-over’s in Jesus’ day?
You do know, some of those left over’s were “new recipes,” (or experiments) that no one liked…and you had to eat them again, anyway…
And then, I thought about rummage sales, garage sales and yard sales…anyone who has ever had a rummage sale knows about “pe’ah” or the left-over’s…
After you have attempted to sell and get rid of all the stuff you no longer use or want…what do you do with the “pe’ah” – or the stuff that is left?
Well, in verse 12 of our gospel text for today, Jesus said, “Gather up the left-over’s (the “pe’ah”) so that nothing may be lost!”
Why was Jesus so concerned about all those fragments, those left-overs, the (pe’ah) that no one in the crowd wanted anymore?
Some people actually feel like they themselves are “pe’ah” – or left over’s.
Somehow they have messed up their life and they are not now – where they thought they would be?
You know there is little that we can do about past, but there is much that we can do about our future. If you do not like who you are today, then change it!
Become a better you. Become a nicer you! Become a more loving you. Become a more forgiving you.
God uses our fragments, our left-over’s so that nothing is lost.
Jesus thought that leftover fish and bread was important enough to be gathered up.
How much more important are the fragments of your life?
Allow God to enter your heart this day – and gather up any fragments that might remain and allow him to use them to do great miracles…so that nothing may be lost!
God, Jesus and Mom and my Grandmother all savored and used the left-over’s…so there must be “something to them!”
With God all things are possible…
And who knows, how many MORE PEOPLE Jesus went on – to feed on that very day!