Pentecost 10B

They ate and had some left over,
according to the word of the Lord.
2 Kings 4:44

2 Kings 4:42-44

⁴² 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." ⁴³ But his servant said, "How can I set this before a hundred people?" So Elisha repeated, "Give it to the people and let them eat, for thus says the Lord, 'They shall eat and have some left.'" ⁴⁴ He set it before them, they ate, and had some left over, according to the word of the Lord.


John 6:1-15

¹ After this Jesus went to the other side of the Sea of Galilee, also called the Sea of Tiberias. ² A large crowd kept following him, because they saw the signs that he was doing for the sick. ³ Jesus went up the mountain and sat down there with his disciples. ⁴Now the Passover, the festival of the Jews, was near.

⁵ 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?" ⁶ He said this to test him, for he himself knew what he was going to do. ⁷ Philip answered him, "Six months' wages would not buy enough bread for each of them to get a little." ⁸ One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, said to him, ⁹ "There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish. But what are they among so many people?" ¹⁰ 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. ¹¹ 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. ¹² When they were satisfied, he told his disciples, "Gather up the fragments left over, so that nothing may be lost."

¹³ So they gathered them up, and from the fragments of the five barley loaves, left by those who had eaten, they filled twelve baskets. ¹⁴ 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."

¹⁵ 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.

2 Kings 4:42-44

The lectionary pairs this story with Jesus' feeding a huge mob of…5,000 men plus women and children. Do the math!

For an undisclosed reason someone from a land of the Baals, the Canaanite fertility gods, a person almost definitely not an Israelite, brought bounty from the first fruits of Shavuot, the Jewish Pentecost or festival of weeks we talked about on the Christian Day of Pentecost. The first fruits marked the harvest end; Leviticus 23:20 states, "The bread of the first fruits … shall be holy to the Lord."

At first it looked like a lot of food, but when they discovered the crowd was 100 people (was that only men, as was typical then?) they knew it couldn't be enough.

The servant (whose servant? it doesn't say) from afar had anxiety about the amount of food, but Elisha assured him it would be more than enough according to God's promise—as in having leftovers. The hungry people, the human gathering, shared God's holy food of the first fruits.


Bread-Tide

Because Mark is the shortest gospel, this year we hear more from John's gospel than we do during Matthew's or Luke's year. For five weeks beginning today through Pentecost 14, we'll read John 6:1-69—most of the chapter. On twitter, Dr Jo Kershaw from Wakefield, UK, called these five Sundays Bread-Tide.

All four gospels include today's loaves and fishes story:

• Matthew 14:13-21

• Mark 6:32-44

• Luke 9:10-17


Interpreting Scripture

To the extent we can figure it out, the historical setting and original meaning of a passage always is our first question. Every mention of water doesn't refer to baptism; every mention of bread and/or fruit of the vine doesn't correlate to the Lord's Supper, yet they still remind us water is life and food is essential.

At this opening section, try to go back to before Maundy Thursday, before Resurrection evening.

Jesus' disciples would not have heard or seen Jesus in terms of the Last Supper/Lord's Supper; they could not have related this event to a post-resurrection Eucharistic meal with the risen Christ. Although Jesus' original long discourse would have been more scattered and piecemeal than what John gives us, John was very theologically intentional about the order of Jesus' words, and today's reading doesn't yet have Jesus' proclaim I Am the Bread of Life where Jesus not only gives the food, Jesus is the food, so let's also wait on that.

Some scholars believe this is John's stand-in for the Maundy Thursday Lord's Supper founding meal. That's only speculation, even though Jesus takes the loaves, gives thanks, and Jesus himself – not the disciples – feeds the people. Did you notice there's no mention of fruit of the vine, or wine…?


Bread and Fish notes

This chapter happens during Passover. Just as at the first Passover, there's been a sea crossing, followed by bread in the wilderness. John 6:9 "Five barley loaves and two fish." Barley was one of the seven agricultural gifts of the promised land; barley was the coarser, less expensive poorer person's grain; the barley harvest had the advantage of being ready before the wheat! Some people in that culture considered fish a food of the gods.

Just as in the OT reading, there were bountiful leftovers. In Greek, leftovers and baskets full are the same word. But what happened to those leftovers? Maybe they fed people who weren't there for whatever reason; possibly the extras fed birds or wild animals?

We only can guess and hope what happened to the leftovers, but we know God's abundance, generosity, grace, supply—you can't out-give God!

I love how the first reading ends with Elisha repeating, "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 over, according to the word of the Lord."

You've probably heard, There's enough for everyone's need, but not for everyone's greed?

Five Loaves and Two Fish
John 6:9

Pentecost 9B

In Christ ye also are builded together
for an habitation of God through the Spirit.
Ephesians 2:22

2 Samuel 7:6-8

⁶ I have not lived in a house since the day I brought up the people of Israel from Egypt to this day, but I have been moving about in a tent and a tabernacle. ⁷ Wherever I have moved about among all the people of Israel, did I ever speak a word with any of the tribal leaders of Israel, whom I commanded to shepherd my people Israel, saying, ‘Why have you not built me a house of cedar?’ ⁸ Now therefore thus you shall say to my servant David: Thus says the Lord of hosts: I took you from the pasture, from following the sheep to be prince over my people Israel.


Ephesians 2:13-22

¹³ But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.

¹⁴ For Christ is our peace; in his flesh he has made both groups into one and has broken down the dividing wall, that is, the hostility between us.
¹⁵ He has abolished the law with its commandments and ordinances, that he might create in himself one new humanity in place of the two, thus making peace, ¹⁶ and might reconcile both groups to God in one body through the cross, thus putting to death that hostility through it.

¹⁷ So Christ came and proclaimed peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near; ¹⁸ for through him both of us have access in one Spirit to the Father. ¹⁹ So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are citizens with the saints and also members of the household of God, ²⁰ built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the cornerstone. ²¹ In him the whole structure is joined together and grows into a holy temple in the Lord; ²² in whom you also are built together spiritually into a dwelling place for God.

Background

The letter to the church at Ephesus brings us language of the household, the more private, intimate sphere that traditionally included biological family and servants, and that's still mostly about biological family and others we interact with daily outside of school or workplace. Social scientists sometimes refer to these are first spaces or places.

The broad sweep of Ephesians includes third spaces and places—the more commercial, more political public areas where we venture as citizens. Work and school typically are considered second spaces or places.
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The author of Ephesians says "law" in the same way the Apostle Paul does. Here, law (ordinances, etc.) isn't the Ten Words or Commandments. As it is for Paul most of the time, this is ceremonial law, sacrificial law, circumcision, keeping kosher—ritual practices that divided Jews from gentiles or non-Jews.


Vocabulary

This passage is full of gloriously evocative and reassuring language, particularly related to the Holy Spirit. Baptism changes us from being isolated, solitary, atomized individuals as it (literally) incorporates us into the organic, interconnected, interrelated One Body of Christ—not as an undifferentiated blob, but with unique gifts, talents, perspectives, experiences, and contributions. Although the Holy Spirit always has had free reign, we now possess the indwelling Spirit that enables us to live and act as the presence of the crucified and risen Jesus Christ as we restore the fullness of heaven on earth.

The Message riffs to make this wonderfully clear:

Ephesians 2

¹⁶ Christ brought us together through his death on the cross. The Cross got us to embrace, and that was the end of the hostility. ¹⁷ Christ came and preached peace to you outsiders and peace to us insiders. He treated us as equals, and so made us equals. ¹⁸ Through him we both share the same Spirit and have equal access to the Father.

¹⁹ That's plain enough, isn't it? You're no longer wandering exiles. This kingdom of faith is now your home country. You're no longer strangers or outsiders. You belong here, with as much right to the name Christian as anyone.

God is building a home. God's using us all—irrespective of how we got here—in what he is building. ²⁰ God used the apostles and prophets for the foundation. Now God's using you, fitting you in brick by brick, stone by stone, with Christ Jesus as the cornerstone that holds all the parts together. ²¹ We see it taking shape day after day—a holy temple built by God, ²² all of us built into it, a temple in which God is quite at home.

The Message (MSG) Copyright © 1993, 2002, 2018 by Eugene H. Peterson

For the Day of Pentecost I quoted the first stanza of a hymn by Paul Gerhardt:

O enter, Lord, thy temple,
Be Thou my spirit's guest,
Who gavest me, the earth-born,
A second birth more blest.
Thou in the Godhead, Lord,
Though here to dwell Thou deignest,
For ever equal reignest,
Art equally adored.

Paul Gerhardt, 1653; translated by Catherine Winkworth
Tune: Zeuch ein zu deinen Toren
Scripture: Acts 2:17

I have not dwelt in any house
since the time I brought up the children of Israel out of Egypt,
but have walked in a tent and in a tabernacle.
In all the places wherein I have walked,
spake I a word saying, Why build ye not me an house of cedar?
2 Samuel 7:6-7

Pentecost 8B

Faithfulness will spring up
from the ground,
And righteousness look down
from the sky.
Psalm 85:11

Psalm 85:8-13

⁸ Let me hear what God the Lord will say;
For God will speak peace to his people, to the godly ones;
To those who turn heavenward in their hearts.
⁹ Surely salvation is near to those who reverence God,
That glory may dwell in our land.
¹⁰ Mercy and truth are met together;
Righteousness and peace have kissed each other.
¹¹ Faithfulness will spring up from the ground,
And righteousness look down from the sky.
¹² Indeed, the Lord will give what is good,
And our land will yield its increase.
¹³ Righteousness will go before him
And will make a path for his steps.

Psalm 85

Psalm 85 comes along in the lectionary during Advent and at other times. Besides, I fitfully use the PCUSA Daily Prayer App that features Morning Prayer, Evening Prayer, and Night Prayer, it cycles through the psalter every few weeks. Every time I hear verses 10 and 11, I vividly remember singing Ralph Vaughan Williams' cantata, Dona Nobis Pacem when I was an undergrad.

In 1936, three years before the outbreak of World War II as fascism threatened Europe, Ralph Vaughan Williams wrote Dona Nobis Pacem–Give Us Peace.

The first reading for this Sunday is Amos' oracle of a plumbline in the midst of the city: Amos 7:7-15

Are the leaders, the institutions, the "regular people," and the outcomes of their words and actions, straight, just, and true? If they are, mercy and truth, justice and shalom will become the reality of our lives together. Glory will dwell in our land!

• Thanks to Naxos recordings, here's the complete text: Dona Nobis Pacem

• Recordings on Amazon

Pentecost 7B

My grace is sufficient for you
for my power is made perfect in weakness.
2 Corinthians 12:9

Mark 6:1-13

¹ Jesus left that place and came to his hometown, and his disciples followed him. ² On the sabbath he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were astounded. They said, "Where did this man get all this? What is this wisdom that has been given to him? What deeds of power are being done by his hands! ³ Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary and brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon, and are not his sisters here with us?" And they took offense at him.

⁴ Then Jesus said to them, "Prophets are not without honor, except in their hometown, and among their own kin, and in their own house." ⁵ And he could do no deed of power there, except that he laid his hands on a few sick people and cured them. ⁶ And he was amazed at their unbelief.

Then he went about among the villages teaching. ⁷ He called the twelve and began to send them out two by two, and gave them authority over the unclean spirits. ⁸ He ordered them to take nothing for their journey except a staff; no bread, no bag, no money in their belts; ⁹ but to wear sandals and not to put on two tunics. ¹⁰ He said to them, "Wherever you enter a house, stay there until you leave the place. ¹¹ If any place will not welcome you and they refuse to hear you, as you leave, shake off the dust that is on your feet as a testimony against them."

¹² So they went out and proclaimed that all should repent. ¹³ They cast out many demons, and anointed with oil many who were sick and cured them.

So far in Mark

We've heard the opening announcement of Good News – "Gospel" – followed by Jesus' preparation for public ministry by receiving John's baptism of repentance, his retreat into deeper wilderness for a time of solitary prayer and temptation, then ministries of healing, exorcism (casting out demons, evil spirits, and what we might consider mental or psychological illnesses), calling followers or disciples, demonstrating the inclusive reign of God by eating with all comers, teaching theology with parables or comparisons, demonstrating his authority over the created order by taming a storm, *even* restoring life to a young girl who was "at the point of death."


Today's Gospel Reading

Jesus returns to his hometown and his disciples follow him. He's on his own turf, with his own people—both family and friends. His teaching on the Sabbath in his home synagogue causes friends and family (not religious experts this time) to wonder about the source of his authority; after all, this Jesus is a regular person like everyone else.

To paraphrase Pastor Eugene Peterson's version, "All of us know who Jesus is, but who on earth does Jesus think he is?"

Jesus and his siblings would have grown up learning scripture, probably memorizing long passages. Any Jew in that time and place would have been scripturally and theologically literate. In addition, it wasn't unusual for a regular person like Jesus to read and teach in the Sabbath assembly; as in synagogues today, they had a custom of inviting congregants to read Torah on Sabbath.


Models for Ministry

Jesus' friends and relatives didn't get who he was; we can commiserate from knowing about how it feels when people don't understand us, the pain of being rejected or not welcome. Those can be important discussions in light of scripture. But for today, we hear about Jesus sending disciples to do the same ministry he has done. Jesus doesn't wait until their understanding and actions all are perfect; Jesus trusts and sends them as they are. They go out as sent people (apostles) because Jesus has authorized them.

At this particular time, Jesus sends his disciples out in pairs of two. He tells them to go with only bare basics: sandals to protect their feet, a walking stick to help trudging over rough terrain—maybe to chase away snakes and vermin. He tells them not to take food or money! This is far from the only biblical model for reaching-out, invitational evangelism, yet many still follow the two by two, minimal supplies, relying on people we encounter example.


Guests and Hosts: Where We Live

6:10: Wherever you enter a house, stay there until you leave the place (locale).

Preaching, teaching, and healing are important aspects of twenty-first century Christian ministry for individuals and for entities like congregations, schools, and hospitals. Besides, we love to host people. Every city has dozens of church-related food ministries of different types and several housing/shelter services for various populations.

Related to hosting, typically we think of food and shelter, but why not count ministries of music, visual arts, and dance in the ways we host others, whether they're in the audience or we're instructing them? We're still the hosts-givers; they're our guests-recipients.

But here Jesus tells us let other people host you! Enjoy their hospitality; let them give to you. Make yourselves at home among strangers.

We need to contextualize what we do in order to relate well to others' cultures and experience. We want them to feel welcomed and definitely puzzled or offended. How can we learn to host in ways they relate to… maybe by letting them host us?!

We can learn about our neighbors' food by eating it, watching or helping them prepare it, along with table manners that may be different from ours. After all, western European food etiquette departs from our usual North American habits. Engage newcomers to learn about their music, traditions, geography, and other features in their countries of origin. Countries of origin? How about families and individuals from other sections of the USA? We can learn basic words and phrases in others' languages. If they're native speakers of English, pick up some of their colloquial phrases and use them properly.

If because of space, too remote a location, or other concerns activities can't happen in someone's home, we can invite them to a meal or other activity in a park, rec or community center, maybe in our church building. I'll add in here it's absolutely okay to offer financial support to help offset the cost of food or other supplies. Ministries and outreach can't occur without bodies, minds, and spirits, but don't underestimate how essential funding is.

6:11 "If any place will not welcome you and they refuse to hear you, as you leave, shake off the dust that is on your feet as a testimony against them." Move right on! What about that advice? How long do we wait? I always say, "people are going to say and do whatever they're doing to say and do. Don't let them wag you." My own advice often has worked well for me, but how do we discern it's time to move on?