Ninth Sunday After Pentecost: Proper 12: Let The Hungry Be Fed

Today's Readings

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 145:10-19 (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 

We all know the feeling.  Did we do enough with what little we had?  I wish I could have given and/or done more.

This Sunday, we begin our months long reading of John 6.  This chapter from John's Gospel focuses on Jesus as the bread of life.  Jesus came to feed us with the Goodness of God; in the Holy Eucharist and through our participation in Jesus' life in feeding others in His Name.  John 6 is a basis for The Real Presence of Christ in the Holy Eucharist, and the Incarnation of Christ present through His flesh and blood.

In this first installment of John 6, Jesus wants to feed all of the people with only what they have.   He is not interest in what they do not have because of wages or material goods.  Jesus only wants to take care of those who are hungering for the Goodness of God through Christ.  Of all the stories that are found in the three synoptic Gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke, the feeding of the five thousand is also found in John.  The common story is told as symbolic of how much God cares about those who hunger; physically, socially and spiritually.

Hunger is a major problem in our world.  Here in America, in Europe and all over the world, the poor who are hungry and go without every day is unimaginable.  The numbers of how many people including children who live in poverty rises every year.  Yet, those in power here in the U.S. continue to decrease spending for food stamp programs and school lunch programs that serves so many people.

If it is not physical hunger, there are those who continue to suffer under the "hunger" of prejudice, oppression and injustice.  A few weeks ago on the 4th of July Weekend, Fr. Ed Bacon who is the Rector at All Saints Episcopal Church in Pasadena, California spoke regarding the current debate over the removal of confederate flags form public buildings.  Fr. Bacon said it well, when he said the problem is not the confederate flag itself, it is our "confederate consciousness".  The racism that is so out of control over these past years, is the result of two approaches to hunger.  One is a hunger that is interested in power to control minorities, including immigrants.  The other is the hunger of those who are looking for peace from being violently profiled because of their race and/or nation of origin.

The milestones we have achieved towards equal rights for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people in the Church and society is about addressing a hunger.  The hunger to love and be loved by someone so special that our gender, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression of individuals who wish for their dignity to be upheld is being addressed.  None of them are the least bit interested in violating anyone's religious freedom.  In fact, all LGBT people want is to be able to exercise their own civil and religious freedom without the fear harassment or being proselytized.

The shootings in Charleston, South Carolina, Chattanooga, Tennessee and as of yesterday, Louisiana is a hunger to stop the out of control gun violence without politics or billion dollar lobbying firms more concerned about their positions being our main obstacle.  We are not interested in interfering with anyone's 2nd amendment rights.  We just want the opportunity to let our children go to school, people go to movie theaters and walk in public places without the fear that someone will kill them or someone they love just because the shooter has a point to prove.

Jesus Christ comes to us as He did the hungry people in our Gospel story.  He comes to feed us and nurture us towards a greater love for God, our neighbor and ourselves.  All Jesus wants from us, is to offer our gifts however great or small to play a part to relieve the hunger that permeates all of us in one way or another.

Are we ready to offer what we have?  If there is any doubt in our minds, let us remember the words from St. Paul in our reading from Ephesians.

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.

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.  The Book of Common Prayer, p. 231).

 Almighty God, who created us in your image: Grant us
grace fearlessly to contend against evil and to make no peace
with oppression; and, that we may reverently use our freedom,
help us to employ it in the maintenance of justice in our
communities and among the nations, to the glory of your holy
Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with
you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.  (Prayer for Social Justice.  The Book of Common Prayer, p. 260).

 Almighty and most merciful God, we remember before you
all poor and neglected persons whom it would be easy for us
to forget: the homeless and the destitute, the old and the sick,
and all who have none to care for them. Help us to heal those
who are broken in body or spirit, and to turn their sorrow
into joy. Grant this, Father, for the love of your Son, who for
our sake became poor, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.  (Prayer for the Poor and Neglected.  The Book of Common Prayer, p. 826).

 

Eighth Sunday after Pentecost: Jesus said: You give them Something to Eat

Today's Scripture Readings

Isaiah 55:1-5 (NRSV)

Thus says the Lord:

"Ho, everyone who thirsts,

come to the waters;

and you that have no money,

come, buy and eat!

Come, buy wine and milk

without money and without price.

Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread,

and your labor for that which does not satisfy?

Listen carefully to me, and eat what is good,

and delight yourselves in rich food.

Incline your ear, and come to me;

listen, so that you may live.

I will make with you an everlasting covenant,

my steadfast, sure love for David.

See, I made him a witness to the peoples,

a leader and commander for the peoples.

See, you shall call nations that you do not know,

and nations that do not know you shall run to you,

because of the LORD your God, the Holy One of Israel,

for he has glorified you."

Psalm 145 (BCP., p.801)


Romans 9:1-5 (NRSV)

I am speaking the truth in Christ-- I am not lying; my conscience confirms it by the Holy Spirit-- I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. For I could wish that I myself were accursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my own people, my kindred according to the flesh. They are Israelites, and to them belong the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the worship, and the promises; to them belong the patriarchs, and from them, according to the flesh, comes the Messiah, who is over all, God blessed forever. Amen.

Matthew 14:13-21 (NRSV)

Jesus withdrew in a boat to a deserted place by himself. But when the crowds heard it, they followed him on foot from the towns. When he went ashore, he saw a great crowd; and he had compassion for them and cured their sick. When it was evening, the disciples came to him and said, "This is a deserted place, and the hour is now late; send the crowds away so that they may go into the villages and buy food for themselves." Jesus said to them, "They need not go away; you give them something to eat." They replied, "We have nothing here but five loaves and two fish." And he said, "Bring them here to me." Then he ordered the crowds to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven, and blessed and broke the loaves, and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds. And all ate and were filled; and they took up what was left over of the broken pieces, twelve baskets full. And those who ate were about five thousand men, besides women and children.

Blog Reflection

A few of my readers are going to think I have flipped my lid when I share with you an experience I had over the past two weeks.  

A dear friend of mine who is a new Episcopalian began a group on Facebook called Progressive Christian Mysticism.   I joined the group with much enthusiasm, and I do applaud his efforts.   As time went on, the owner of the group put up regular posts by Marcus Borg and other progressive Christian authors, along side works by Thomas Merton.   I also saw a post entitled "Are you one" that had a list of the things that the particular progressive Christian man holds.  I deeply honor the faith of the individual and believe his intentions and purpose is good.   At the same time, I began to have a bit of an issue within my own heart.

I continue to be a progressive when it comes to politics.   I can also be labeled a more progressive theologian in some ways.   Yet, there is another side of me that remains very conservative when it comes to things like what is written in the Apostles and Nicene Creed are things I do truly believe.   I make no bones about being very Anglo-Catholic when it comes to worship, spirituality and the like.   At the same time, I do and have embraced Universalism in that I believe whether one is a Christian or not, there is still hope for salvation.  

When it comes to basic Christian spirituality in terms of contemplation, mysticism and prayer,  I believe whole heartedly they are neither political, nor are they based on one's theological opinions, arguments or school of thought.   When it comes to the movement of the Holy Spirit within our hearts and how we respond to the Spirit's gentle nudging, all that is important is being open to hearing what She has to say.

I think the message of today's Gospel reading is that what mattered most to Jesus in the feeding of the five thousand, is that they were hungry.   They were physically hungry and spiritually hungry.  They heard about this man who had been preaching the news of God's reign, healing the sick and casting out evil spirits.  They wanted to see this man, but they also needed Him to give nourishment to their bodies and souls.  They wanted to know if God was truly listening to the hunger in their stomachs and hearts, and they wanted a reason to respond.  

Jesus' response was not to ask them about their theological or political opinions.   Jesus was not concerned about whether they were illegal immigrants, or baptized or if they had gone to seminary and passed the General Ordination Exams.  Jesus fed them with the Goodness of God.  And I do believe if there had been a person who had a gluten allergy, or if the fish had mercury, or there was someone who was a vegan, the Goodness Jesus fed them with would have met them where they were, and healed them in body and soul.   I also believe that their hearts would have been changed, because everyone was welcome to eat, and receive God's blessing through Christ.

I think the message for Christians, is to see beyond what people think, or how they exercise their responsibilities as citizens, to show reverence and respect for the presence of Christ in all people.  This is a hard teaching for me to live by, as I am sure my many of readers find it difficult.   But, through the daily attentiveness to the Word of God who is Jesus the Christ in our hearts through the Holy Spirit; in that place where it matters not whether one is a democrat or a republican, a progressive or a conservative; God draws each of us closer to God's Self and one another.  The labels that are used to divide and permit prejudice and justify a first class and a second class of citizens are human made.   They may be necessary for us to know so that we learn to respect one another in some way, shape or form.  However, as far as God is concerned, with in each of us, is there room for the Goodness of the Lord to come, speak, heal and call?   Are we willing to "incline the ears of our hearts" enough to notice how much we each hunger for God's Word, with a need to respond in a way that brings healing and reconciliation us and the world around us?  As far as God's Word is concerned, the only label God is concerned about, is that we are Beloved of God, and with us, God is well-pleased.

Jesus said: "You give them something to eat."   We can only give from that which we have received.  If we are open to God's Word in our hearts, we will be able to give of, and share from that Word with in us, to others who are abandoned, war torn, and experiencing violence    We will respond to issues such as the second class citizenship of women, LGBT, African Americans, Native Americans, Muslims, Jewish people, Atheists and more, not because it is politically correct; but, because we are God's people giving reverence and respect to all of God's holy people.  We will feed them with what we have, because we have so graciously received with thankful hearts and open hands.    And the People of God will together say with one voice, one response:

Amen.


Prayers

Let your continual mercy, O Lord, cleanse and defend your
Church; and, because it cannot continue in safety without
your help, protect and govern it always by your goodness;
through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you
and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.  (Book of Common Prayer, p. 232).

Almighty God, who created us in your image: Grant us
grace fearlessly to contend against evil and to make no peace
with oppression; and, that we may reverently use our freedom,
help us to employ it in the maintenance of justice in our
communities and among the nations, to the glory of your holy
Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with
you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. (Book of Common Prayer, p. 260).