2 Kings 4:42-44 (NRSV)
A man came from Baal-shalishah, bringing food from the first fruits to the man of God: twenty loaves of barley and fresh ears of grain in his sack. Elisha said, "Give it to the people and let them eat." But his servant said, "How can I set this before a hundred people?" So he repeated, "Give it to the people and let them eat, for thus says the LORD, `They shall eat and have some left.'" He set it before them, they ate, and had some left, according to the word of the LORD.
Psalm 145, BCP., p. 802
Ephesians 3:14-21 (NRSV)
I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth takes its name. I pray that, according to the riches of his glory, he may grant that you may be strengthened in your inner being with power through his Spirit, and that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith, as you are being rooted and grounded in love. I pray that you may have the power to comprehend, with all the saints, what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
Now to him who by the power at work within us is able to accomplish abundantly far more than all we can ask or imagine, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.
John 6:1-21 (NRSV)
Jesus went to the other side of the Sea of Galilee, also called the Sea of Tiberias. A large crowd kept following him, because they saw the signs that he was doing for the sick. Jesus went up the mountain and sat down there with his disciples. Now the Passover, the festival of the Jews, was near. When he looked up and saw a large crowd coming toward him, Jesus said to Philip, "Where are we to buy bread for these people to eat?" He said this to test him, for he himself knew what he was going to do. Philip answered him, "Six months' wages would not buy enough bread for each of them to get a little." One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, said to him, "There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish. But what are they among so many people?" Jesus said, "Make the people sit down." Now there was a great deal of grass in the place; so they sat down, about five thousand in all. Then Jesus took the loaves, and when he had given thanks, he distributed them to those who were seated; so also the fish, as much as they wanted. When they were satisfied, he told his disciples, "Gather up the fragments left over, so that nothing may be lost." So they gathered them up, and from the fragments of the five barley loaves, left by those who had eaten, they filled twelve baskets. When the people saw the sign that he had done, they began to say, "This is indeed the prophet who is to come into the world."
When Jesus realized that they were about to come and take him by force to make him king, he withdrew again to the mountain by himself.
When evening came, his disciples went down to the sea, got into a boat, and started across the sea to Capernaum. It was now dark, and Jesus had not yet come to them. The sea became rough because a strong wind was blowing. When they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus walking on the sea and coming near the boat, and they were terrified. But he said to them, "It is I; do not be afraid." Then they wanted to take him into the boat, and immediately the boat reached the land toward which they were going.
Blog Reflection
Another fish and loaves story.
Jesus feeds the multitudes again.
Where have we heard this story before?
Rev. Ian McAlister wrote a bit about this particular story appearing in all four Gospels.
It’s as if the more times a miracle is recorded across the Gospels, the more we need to take notice. Why? Isn’t just one recorded miracle enough any more?
Have I missed something? Sure, I can see the point that a miracle is emphasised by repetition but why? Are we now at a point where we are grading miracles as if they’re in an Olympic pre-selection trial? That the Gold Medal goes to the one that appears in all 4 Gospels?
I would have thought that any miracle is worth a look, whether or not it appears in multiple places, wouldn’t you?
On the other hand, instead of observing the number of repetitions – as if we are in some theological sporting contest – maybe I should concentrate on the content of the Miracle.
This particular Gospel story appears as we begin a series of Sundays using the sixth chapter of the Gospel of John. We will be reading and hearing a lot about Jesus coming to feed us with the Goodness of God. Jesus will proclaim himself as the bread of life, who feeds us with God's presence in the Holy Eucharist. Every three years during while we are reading the Gospel of Mark, we stop during these weeks of August to reflect on our belief in God being with us, and providing for us, by feeding us and uniting us one to another.
As Christians, when we talk about being united as the Body of Christ we face the reality of how much we are not united in Christ. We read the Bible. We talk of seeking salvation for all people in and through the Name of Jesus Christ. We hear sermons, sing hymns, read writings and books about God's unconditional love. All of that, which is true for us, stops with people of different religions, sexual orientations, gender, gender identity/expression, many cultures such as the Native Americans, and immigrants, those who are poor, sick, in need and more. We find more ways for exceptions, such as interpreting the Bible literally to exclude, stereo type and denigrate.
No where in today's Gospel do we hear Jesus questioning whether someone in the hungry crowd should be excluded from being fed with God's Goodness. Jesus knows there are needs to be cared for. That need is substantive and requires a physical touch from God as well as spiritual and intellectual fulfillment. God comes in Christ to care for those needs with the utmost care for each person. God desires to include those who's voter rights have been disenfranchised, or refused Holy Communion. In Christ, God's heart is made visible with the intention to reach out, welcome, to bring healing and reconciliation to those who are in need or alone. The place where God feeds the hungry, is a place for all who seek to be fed by unconditional and all-inclusive love. God's house is a place of prayer for everyone.
The invitation of God needs to be that of the Church. To invite all to be fed and nourished, without judgment or exclusion. The intention of God to reach out and find room for all people, can be so of Christians of all sects. God's work of seeking the lost and forsaken to heal, not exploit is what our Baptismal Covenant is really about..
As embark on these last weeks of Summer, may we take time to sup with Christ. May we also take time to ask God to help us to reach out to those who often feel excluded. Let us be open to the Holy Spirit using us in new and exciting ways to help the Church become more hospitable, and a place of healing for so much brokenness.
Prayers
O God, the protector of all who trust in you, without whom
nothing is strong, nothing is holy: Increase and multiply upon
us your mercy; that, with you as our ruler and guide, we may so
pass through things temporal, that we lose not the things eternal;
through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you
and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. (Proper 12, Book of Common Prayer, p. 231).
Gracious Father, we pray for they holy Catholic Church. Fill it
with all truth, in all truth with all peace. Where it is corrupt,
purify it; where it is in error, direct it; where in any thing it is
amiss, reform it. Where it is right, strengthen it; where it is in
want, provide for it; where it is divided, reunite it; for the sake
of Jesus Christ thy Son our Savior. Amen. (Prayer for the Church, Book of Common Prayer, p. 816).
Grant, O God, that your holy and life-giving Spirit may so
move every human heart [and especially the hearts of the
people of this land], that barriers which divide us may
crumble, suspicions disappear, and hatreds cease; that our
divisions being healed, we may live in justice and peace;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (Prayer for Social Justice, Book of Common Prayer, p. 823).
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