Herod or Hillside

Thursday August 7th, Matthew 14: Hearing of this, the crowds followed him on foot from the towns. 14 When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them and healed their sick. Who were the ones responding to Jesus in this way? I think it was not the guests from Herod’s banquet, but rather the uninvited, unwelcomed and the unworthy in the kingdom of power politics. These were the victims of power, the masses. These are the ones we are asked to reach out to. These are the ones who make up the kingdom of God here and now. And what did Jesus do? Was it a self absorbed response, “People, Come on, I just need a little space right now”? Was it empathetic, “I feel your pain, you must all feel so bad right now”? Was it self-help, “follow these ten easy steps and you too can be an up and coming person of power in this world”? It was rather the kingdom life. Hear the words of God, be there for one another, treat others justly, share what you have. The new reality in a world long locked in an old reality. Which kingdom, Herod or hillside, is the church called to be?