Second Helpings

In ‘Oliver Twist’, Oliver’s an orphan in the workhouse, inadequately fed on gruel.

Charles Dickens says: ‘Child as he was, he was desperate with hunger, and reckless with misery. He rose from the table; and advancing to the master, basin and spoon in hand, said: somewhat alarmed at his own temerity: ‘Please, sir, I want some more.’

Second helpings were part of my childhood… We enjoyed our initial bowl-full of treacle tart, jam sponge or rhubarb crumble… but there was some left. We waited for Mum to say, ‘Anyone for seconds?’

We weren’t ‘desperate with hunger and reckless with misery’ . We just really liked Mum’s puddings.

When our children were small, we were invited out to lunch by some friends from church. They also had three children, so two families of five round their table was quite a squeeze.

We were very well fed… but there was some pudding left over. ‘Does anybody want some more?’ asked Elizabeth.

‘No thank you, I’m quite full.’ ‘Just a tiny piece, please.’ ‘I don’t need any, but it was so lovely – just a small piece.’ There was no holding back our younger son. ‘Just a big piece please!’

This morning I read John 14. Jesus says: ‘I will ask the Father and he will send you another helper…’

Many years ago our friend David preached on this verse, calling his sermon ‘Second Helpings’.

Jesus was the first helper, the first helping… comforting those who mourn, healing the sick, feeding the hungry, defending the victims…

The Holy Spirit would be the second helper, the second helping. The word for ‘another’ in the text is ‘allos’, meaning ‘another of the same kind’…

…A second helping for those who are desperately hungry; for those who’ve had some, and really enjoyed it…

David concluded that we should be the third helping… bringing help, comfort and encouragement to those around us…

The grandchildren are here this afternoon. There’s chocolate trifle in the fridge. I think there may be seconds.