A Prophecy and a Reminder

Devotional Reflection, Friday January 10, 2025

The Week of the Epiphany

The Rev David W. Perkins, Th.D.

Key verses for reflection from today’s Gospel reading:

9‘There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish. But what are they among so many people?’ 10Jesus 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. 11Then 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.

You will find the full text of today’s Gospel reading at the end of this reflection.

Daily Office Lectionary Readings: (BCP, 242)

AM, Psalm 138, 139:1-17(18-23);  PM, Psalm 147

Isa. 65:1-9;  Rev. 3:1-6;  John 6:1-14

David's Reflections

I find long quotes off putting when I read. At the risk of being off putting, I am sharing a longer quote by C. S. Lewis about miracles because its value outweighs the risk of sinning against you as a reader.

     There is an activity of God displayed throughout creation, a wholesale activity let us say which men refuse to recognize. The miracles done by God incarnate, living as a man in Palestine, perform the very same things as this wholesale activity, but at a different speed and on a smaller scale. . . . The miracles in fact are a retelling in small letters of the very same story which is written across the whole world in letters too large for some of us to see.  . . . In other words, some of the miracles do locally what God has already done universally;  others do locally what He has not yet done, but will do.  In that sense, and from our human point of view, some are reminders  and others prophecies.” +

The feeding seems to me to be both a reminder and a prophecy, a reminder that all food and drink come from God's hand and a prophecy that we are living toward a future of incredible material and spiritual abundance in the fulfilled Kingdom of God.

Other than Jesus' resurrection, the feeding is the only miracle story related by all four Gospels.  In fact, Matthew and Mark contain two versions of the miracle with slight differences.  That means that the feeding miracle gets reported six times in the Gospels.  Obviously, the early storytellers who preserved these stories about Jesus and the Gospel writers who crafted them into narrative accounts saw Jesus uniquely revealed in this miracle.

In Holy Eucharist each Sunday, we give thanks for God's abundance in creation, and we share in the fruits of that abundance, bread and wine.  And, in that feeding, Jesus literally multiplies himself to feed all communicants around the world, to give them himself.  In that sense the feeding miracle is a prophecy of what was to be.  All believers were to be nurtured by Jesus throughout time.

Today, I give thanks for the feeding miracle as a reminder, a reminder that on a larger scale and in a longer time frame, God grows all bread and all foods and that we eat those foods from God's own hand.  I also give thanks for this miracle as prophecy, a prophecy that Jesus would be the living bread that feeds my soul and the souls of all believers.  And, I give thanks for the recurring spiritual hungers that keep me returning to the only true bread.

This miracle offers us the best biblical commentary I know on the prayer, "Give us this day our daily bread."

+C. S. Lewis, God in the Dock:  Essays on Theology and Ethics.  Ed. Walter Hooper (Grand Rapids:  Eerdmans, 1970), p. 29.

Collect of the Feast of the Epiphany

O God, who by the leading of a star manifested your only Son to the Peoples of the earth: Lead us, who know you now by faith, to your presence, where we may see your glory face to face; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.  Amen.

Today we celebrate the Feast of William Laud, Archbishop of Canterbury and martyr (died 10 January 1645 CE).  For a biographical note, readings, and prayers see the web link http://www.satucket.com/lectionary/William_Laud.htm

Collect of the Feast of William Laud

Keep us, O Lord, constant in faith and zealous in witness, that, like your servant William Laud, we may live in your fear, die in your favor, and rest in your peace; for the sake of Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.  Amen.

A Collect for Fridays

Lord Jesus Christ, by your death you took away the sting of death: Grant to us your servants so to follow in faith where you have led the way, that we may at length fall asleep peacefully in you and wake up in your likeness; for your tender mercies' sake. Amen.  (BCP, 123)

A Collect for Guidance

O God, whose Son Jesus is the good shepherd of your people;  Grant that when we hear his voice we may know him who calls us each by name, and follow where he leads; who, with you and the Holy Spirit, lives and reigns, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.  (BCP 100)

For the Sick

Heavenly Father, giver of life and health: Comfort and relieve your sick servants, and give your power of healing to those who minister to their needs, that those (or N., or NN.) for whom our prayers are offered may be strengthened in their weakness and have confidence in your loving care; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.  (BCP, 260)

A Collect for the Presence of Christ

Lord Jesus, stay with us, for evening is at hand and the day is past; be our companion in the way, kindle our hearts, and awaken hope, that we may know you as you are revealed in Scripture and the breaking of bread. Grant this for the sake of your love. Amen. (BCP, 124)

A Collect for Mission

O God and Father of all, whom the whole heavens adore: Let the whole earth also worship you, all nations obey you, all tongues confess and bless you, and men and women everywhere love you and serve you in peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (BCP, 124)

Daily Office Gospel, John 6:1-14        

6:1After this Jesus went to the other side of the Sea of Galilee, also called the Sea of Tiberias. 2A large crowd kept following him, because they saw the signs that he was doing for the sick. 3Jesus went up the mountain and sat down there with his disciples. 4Now the Passover, the festival of the Jews, was near. 5When 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?’ 6He said this to test him, for he himself knew what he was going to do. 7Philip answered him, ‘Six months’ wages would not buy enough bread for each of them to get a little.’ 8One 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?’ 10Jesus 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. 11Then 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. 12When they were satisfied, he told his disciples, ‘Gather up the fragments left over, so that nothing may be lost.’ 13So they gathered them up, and from the fragments of the five barley loaves, left by those who had eaten, they filled twelve baskets. 14When 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.’

Daily Prayer Offices in The Book of Common Prayer

Morning Prayer, Rite 2, page 75, Book of Common Prayer

Noonday Prayer, p. 103, Book of Common Prayer

Order of Worship for Evening (Vespers), p. 109, Book of Common Prayer

Evening Prayer, Rite 2, page 115, Book of Common Prayer

Compline (Night Prayer), Page 127, Book of Common Prayer

Daily Devotionals, page 136, Book of Common Prayer