Part 1 of 2
Daily Office Readings for Sunday of Proper 5: Year 1
Morning, Psalms 24 and 29; Evening, Psalms 8 and 84:
Deuteronomy 29:16 to 29; Revelation 12:1 to 12; Matthew 15:29 to 39:
“Then ordering the crowd to sit down on the ground, he took the seven loaves and the fish; and after giving thanks he broke them and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds:” (Matthew 15:35 and 36).
There are two things here that I ponder about. First, the number seven is crucial. It is the number of those whom were recorded to have been called, and who accepted the call to follow our Lord Jesus; (Jesus’ called 7 of the Apostles: Simon and Andrew – Matthew 4:18 – 20; John and James – Matthew 4: 21 – 22; Matthew (AKA Levi) Matthew 9:9; Philip – John 1:43; and Nathaniel – John 1: 50 – 51). Also, our seven days of the week and the seven notes in an octave of music. There is something to this seven business. Second, it is always good to note the liturgical process of Jesus taking the food, blessing the food, dividing up the food and then giving the food to the people. This is the Take, Bless, Brake and Give liturgy of God. Amen.
Part 2 of 2
New Testament Eucharistic Readings for Sunday of Proper 5: Year B
2nd Corinthians 4:13 to 5:1; and Mark 3:20 to 35:
“The crowd came together again, so that Jesus and his disciples could not even eat. When his family heard it, they went out to restrain him, for people were saying, “He has gone out of his mind.” (Mark 3: 20 and 21)
When I was fulltime rector of St Paul’s I used to dread pot luck coffee hours. Inevitably some parishioners would gather at my office door to see me after the service such that I could not go and partake of the good food that folks brought from their homes or the local restaurants. After a while however, some would notice this and fix me a dish of the foods that they knew I liked and save it for me. That was wonderful. I could see anybody by appointment at anytime during the week, but some people would wait until they came to Church on Sunday, especially if food was there, and then take that opportunity to share their concerns. But they are my family so, so be it.
Some who were listening to Jesus were concerned about their status with Jesus fully believing Him to be the Son of God. Jesus tells them, and us, “Whoever does the will of God is my brother and sister and mother:” (Mark 3:35). You who believe are members of the family of our Lord Jesus. Jesus is not rejecting his earthly family. No, instead, he is expanding his family, his spiritual family. Our family relationship with Jesus is spiritual. I have heard it said that blood is thicker than water. The meaning being that family blood kinship is closer than friends and neighbors. The Spirit of God however, is thicker and much stronger than even blood kin. Besides this, through the cup of Christ and his blood shared with us, we become the spiritual blood kin to our Lord Jesus and thereby children of God. Thank you Lord Jesus.
Let us live to love, more than just love to live, listening to what the Spirit is saying to, and through, the saints of God, while pondering anew what the Almighty can do. John
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