{Ian, our videographer, is taking a short rest and so the service was not recorded. I'd also like you to know that your pastor will be on his summer holiday until August 23. In case of pastoral emergency, please call Fred Neukamm or Karin Remnyak.}
Readings for 6 August 2023 – The Tenth Sunday after Pentecost
Gospel Reading: Matthew 14:13-21
The Lord be with you. And also with you.
A reading from the Holy Gospel according to Matthew.
Glory to you, O Lord.
Now when Jesus heard this (John’s death and burial), he withdrew from there 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.
This is the Gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, O Christ!
Prayers of the Church:
Merciful Lord, you have made us your people and added as to those who love you. With faith and trust in your mercy, we ask you to hear our prayers this day.
Merciful Lord, feed us with your grace and nourish us with your Word, Lord, in your mercy, Hear our prayer.
Merciful Lord, You open your hand, satisfying the desire of every living thing. Help us to feed those who hunger for food, for comfort, and for freedom. Lord, in your mercy, Hear our prayer.
Merciful Lord, we pray this day for all who have heard your word and follow your way. Lord, in your mercy, Hear our prayer.
Merciful Lord, continue to support all who work the land and bless their work in growing what is needed. Lord, in your mercy, Hear our prayer.
Merciful Lord, give peace to your people throughout the world, especially in Ukraine, Russia, and Sudan. Be close to all those who suffer the terrors and dangers of violence. Lord, in your mercy, Hear our prayer.
Merciful Lord, grant healing to so many who suffer from diseases of mind, body, and spirit. Continue to give strength and patience those who work for healing in any way. Lord, in your mercy, Hear our prayer.
Merciful Lord, hear our prayers this day for all those in our nation who endure flooding or fires. Remember all those throughout the world who suffer from natural disasters. Lord, in your mercy, Hear our prayer.
Merciful Lord, today we pray for our Anglican neighbors, their bishop, Bishop Todd Townsend, the people of Trinity Church, Aylmer, and their priest, the Rev'd Ann Webber. Bless their faithful service. Lord, in your mercy, Hear our prayer.
Merciful Lord, we ask you to hear our continual prayers for those we care for and for those who have asked for our prayers … * Lord, in your mercy, Hear our prayer. {*Gail Mauer, Deb Kirschner, Rose Gotzmeister, Rick Cerna, Rose Ungar, Marjorie Weber}
Merciful Lord, keep us in
your mercy and feed us with your Word. We turn to you in faith and ask you to
hear our prayers made in Jesus’ name.
Amen.
Sermon
Jesus said to them, “They need not go away; you give them something to eat.”
· This is a story we all know. As with most of the incidents in the Gospels, there is more to them then just want meets the eye.
· Jesus was mourning John the Baptizer who had just been killed and he wanted to be by himself. The crowds had other ideas. We don’t know if they followed him because they had compassion on him and wanted to share his grief or if they followed him to hear more of his teaching or if they followed in order to experience more miracles. If they followed to share his grief, they’d learned something from his teaching. If they wanted more teaching, all well and good. If they desired more miracles, it might have been out of a particular need or it might have been out of a craving for entertainment.
· I don’t think it mattered to Jesus. Matthew wrote he had compassion for them and cured their sick. Further, when the time came, he fed them in an amazing manner. There were even leftovers. This is the place where the story shows the grace given to the crowds that day and to us as well.
· The crowds came to Jesus with their own reasons. Whoever come to Jesus is accepted no matter why, ‘cause things can change. In fact, Jesus’ acceptance of each person is the place where grace is focused and where such acceptance can change the heart of any person.
· It’s interesting to note that there are words in this event that remind us to look at the Last Supper and to Holy Communion. Jesus uses Last Supper/The Lord’s Supper words, like take—blessed/gave thanks—broke—gave. When those words are used, it is the Lord’s Supper that is being referred to. Matthew’s Gospel says this: While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take and eat; this is my body.” Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you.” (Matt 26:26-27)
· In our Gospel passage, Jesus has the disciples distribute the bread and fish. That directive remains with us today. We are to share /distribute /give what Jesus has given us. This too is grace.
· Here are some words attributed to Teresa of Avila, a Spanish saint:
Christ has no body but yours,
No hands, no feet on earth but yours,
Yours are the eyes
with which He looks Compassion on this world,
Yours are the feet with which He walks to do good,
Yours are the hands, with which He blesses all the world.
Yours are the hands, yours are the feet,
Yours are the eyes, you are His body.
Christ has no body now but yours,
Christ has no body now on earth but yours.
· In the grace of God, every disciple of Jesus can do this in whatever setting they find themselves, without exception.
· In a world that needs feeding with the bread of grace and the Gospel, we who have received grace and been formed by the Gospel, have been given the menu, the platter, and the mission to feed one another and the world.
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