Lectionary #110
2 Kings 4: 42-44
Ephesians 4: 1-6
John 6: 1-15
Bread is a staple of life. No matter what type of grain is used, many societies in the world depend on bread to live. The lack of bread has lead to revolutions and the overthrow of governments.
Bread is important in the Scriptures. In Genesis, Mielchizedek, the King-Priest of Salem, brought bread and wine to Abraham, to celebrate his victory against the four Kings. In Exodus, God instructs Moses to tell the people of Israel to prepare and eat only unleavened bread on the night of Passover, the bread of haste. And later in Exodus, in the great desert, God feeds His people with manna, “bread from heaven.”
In the first reading, the people are suffering from famine; Elisha comes in possession of twenty barley loaves, to feed one hundred people. Elisha, trusting in the Lord’s word, has the food distributed and it satisfies everyone. The Lord cares for His people.
In the Gospel of John, we see Jesus performing an even greater miracle, with just five barley loaves and a couple of fish, he is able to feed five thousand people. The people are awed by what they have witnessed; they believe that the Messiah is among them; they want to make Jesus king and have him use his power to drive the occupying Romans out. The people do not understand that this miracle is not meant to reestablish a political kingdom. It was to show them that God still cares for His people.
God still cares for us, His people. In a harsh world, we are hungry for healing, hungry for hope, hungry for peace, hungry for love. The Father feeds us with the Bread of Life, the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ. Through the Eucharist, we are refreshed, through the Eucharist, we are strengthened for the Gospel journey, through the Eucharist, we become one with the God who loves us.
2 Kings 4: 42-44
Ephesians 4: 1-6
John 6: 1-15
Bread is a staple of life. No matter what type of grain is used, many societies in the world depend on bread to live. The lack of bread has lead to revolutions and the overthrow of governments.
Bread is important in the Scriptures. In Genesis, Mielchizedek, the King-Priest of Salem, brought bread and wine to Abraham, to celebrate his victory against the four Kings. In Exodus, God instructs Moses to tell the people of Israel to prepare and eat only unleavened bread on the night of Passover, the bread of haste. And later in Exodus, in the great desert, God feeds His people with manna, “bread from heaven.”
In the first reading, the people are suffering from famine; Elisha comes in possession of twenty barley loaves, to feed one hundred people. Elisha, trusting in the Lord’s word, has the food distributed and it satisfies everyone. The Lord cares for His people.
In the Gospel of John, we see Jesus performing an even greater miracle, with just five barley loaves and a couple of fish, he is able to feed five thousand people. The people are awed by what they have witnessed; they believe that the Messiah is among them; they want to make Jesus king and have him use his power to drive the occupying Romans out. The people do not understand that this miracle is not meant to reestablish a political kingdom. It was to show them that God still cares for His people.
God still cares for us, His people. In a harsh world, we are hungry for healing, hungry for hope, hungry for peace, hungry for love. The Father feeds us with the Bread of Life, the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ. Through the Eucharist, we are refreshed, through the Eucharist, we are strengthened for the Gospel journey, through the Eucharist, we become one with the God who loves us.
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