Daily Office Readings for Tuesday of Proper 5: Year 2
Morning, Psalms 61 and 62; Evening, Psalm 68:1 to 20 (21-23) 24 to 36;
Ecclesiastes 8:14 to 9:10; Galatians 4:21 to 31; Matthew 15:29 to 39:
“Then Jesus called his disciples to him and said, ‘I have compassion for the crowd, because they have been with me now for three days and have nothing to eat; and I do not want to send them away hungry, for they might faint on the way.” (Matthew 15: 33)
When Covid hit, we, the Church, came full circle back to feeding the multitude camped outside on the Church grounds. Our then Bishop instructed us (the Episcopal priests of East Carolina), six years ago, to Consecrate “Both Kinds” but to give only the bread. I had compassion on the people who have missed Holy Communion for so long but at the same time remembering we could have not gathered for church at all. At least the readings, message, prayers and the blessed wafer was better than not having church at all, and it is full communion with Christ. That was six years ago this month. We are now back to full communion with blessed wine that can be received by intinction or from the Common Cup as Jesus did. It is up to individual preference.
Who’s to say what would happen should the people continue without any communion at all for much longer. Might they too have spiritually fainted on the way? I have witnessed firsthand how glad parishioners are to be in gathered community, even in the heat of the day when we were restricted to outside worship. Social media Church does not come close to satisfying the spiritual hunger people have as they struggle to keep Christ in their lives. When I dismissed the parish in those days I could see the satisfaction on their faces as they walked to their cars. All I can say is, Thank you Lord Jesus for letting me be a part of Your ministry.
We are pretty much back to some sort of normalcy now. We use the common chalice and a smaller chalice for intinction (dipping). We still meet the needs of the people which includes the individual preference for wearing masks if desired. We have been following our Lord Jesus for a long time. We don’t want to faint during our travels. We Christians need to be fed even as we are feeding others. We live in a world of caring for others and at the same time, being cared for by others.
Today we remember Columba, Abbot of Iona and Missionary (June 9, 597) and his information may be found at: Columba
As we listen to what the Spirit of God is saying to us, let us live to love and to serve, and to teach others to love and to serve, while pondering anew what the Almighty can do. John
Let us pray:
Precious Lord Jesus, who cares for us more than we care for ourselves, keep us ever mindful of the need to be with one another as friends and family with food and fellowship and thanksgiving. Amen.
onewhoponders 