Bread Enough For All
- davidwperk
- Feb 4
- 6 min read
Devotional Reflection, Tuesday, February 4, 2025
Tuesday of the fourth week after Epiphany
The Rev. David W. Perkins, Th.D.
Key phrases for reflection from today’s Gospel reading:
4His disciples replied, ‘How can one feed these people with bread here in the desert?’ 5He asked them, ‘How many loaves do you have?’ They said, ‘Seven.’ 6Then he ordered the crowd to sit down on the ground; and he took the seven loaves, and after giving thanks he broke them and gave them to his disciples to distribute; and they distributed them to the crowd. 7They had also a few small fish; and after blessing them, he ordered that these too should be distributed. 8They ate and were filled; and they took up the broken pieces left over, seven baskets full. 9Now there were about four thousand people
You will find the full text of this Gospel reading at the end of this reflection.
Daily Office Lectionary Readings (BCP, 946)
AM Psalm 61, 62; PM Psalm 68:1-20(21-23)24-36
Isa. 52:1-12; Gal. 4:12-20; Mark 8:1-10
Today we celebrate the Feast of Manche Masemola. (See below.)
David's Reflections
Matthew and Mark contain two versions of the feeding of the multitude. The two versions have minor variations that could be explained as having arisen during the time when these stories were remembered and passed on orally. Only this miracle story appears in all four Gospels, and it appears twice in Matthew and Mark. A story that appears six times--the earliest witnesses to Jesus certainly are telling us, "Stop, look, listen. This is more than important!”
Mark doubles the miracle for theological reasons. In Mark, one feeding happens on Jewish soil, the other on Gentile soil. (Matthew is more obscure about whether the second feeding is on Gentile soil but follows Mark’s doubling.) In both cases, the second feeding happens immediately after the miracle of the healing of the daughter of the Syrophonecian woman. That woman had persisted in calling out to Jesus for the healing of her daughter, even though Jesus was not responsive. He uttered those shocking words, "Woman, it is not right to take the children's food and give it to the dogs." Was he calling this Gentile woman a dog, even by implication? “Dog” was a Jewish racial slur against nonJews.
The woman persisted, even in the face of Jesus' unresponsiveness to her cries. She said that even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from the table. Jesus praised her faith and healed her daughter. Then in Mark’s second telling of the feeding miracle, nonJews in large numbers eat the crumbs from Jesus' hand. The woman's daughter had received a "crumb," healing. Now, a large multitude of nonJews receives the bread and fish from Jesus' hand. Crumbs fell from the table in abundance and for nonJewish people, as a crumb had fallen for the nonJewish Syrophonecian woman.
Holy Scripture presents the image of a God who rains plenty upon us. The abundance of God’s love, mercy, and forgiveness overflows all the baskets we design to catch and contain it. That saving love literally will flow out the doors, windows, and hearts of our churches. Imagine what would happen if we minimized our resistance to God’s grace. How many more lives could be transformed, how many more starving souls could have more than enough of God's nurturing grace? And, that abundance flows indiscriminately to those we might deem as “worthy” and to those we might deem as “unworthy.”
God cares about physical hunger. There is more than enough wheat and barley and rice to fill every craving belly on this planet. The church's mission must be to share that plenty and to fight against the greed and apathy that clogs its flow to the poor.
God cares about the cravings in our souls for spiritual nurture, salvation, and love. In every celebration of Holy Eucharist, Christ becomes bread and wine for the souls of millions on this globe. God lavishes Godself upon us. Let us lavish ourselves, filled with God's love, upon the world. May we be bread for those outside the faith. May we become what we eat each Sunday in Holy Eucharist—bread for the world.
Collect of the Day, Fourth Sunday after the Epiphany
Almighty and everlasting God, you govern all things both in heaven and on earth: Mercifully hear the supplications of your people, and in our time grant us your peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the
Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. (BCP, 216)
Today we celebrate the Feast of Manche Masemola. martyr (died 4 Feb 1928 CE)
Collect of the Feast of Manche Masemola
Almighty and everlasting God, who kindled the flame of your love in the heart of your faithful martyr Manche Masemola; Grant to us your servants, a like faith and power of love, that we who rejoice in her triumph may profit by her example; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
A Collect for Peace
Most holy God, the source of all good desires, all right judgments, and all just works: Give to us, your servants, that peace which the world cannot give, so that our minds may be fixed on the doing of your will, and that we, being delivered from the fear of all enemies, may live in peace and quietness; through the mercies of Christ Jesus our Savior. Amen. (BCP, 123)
Of the Holy Spirit
Almighty and most merciful God, grant that by the indwelling of your Holy Spirit we may be enlightened and strengthened for your service; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. (BCP, 252)
A Prayer for Light
Almighty God, we give you thanks for surrounding us, as daylight fades, with the brightness of the vesper light; and we implore you of your great mercy that, as you enfold us with the radiance of this light, so you would shine into our hearts the brightness of your Holy Spirit; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (BCP, 110)
A Collect for Mission
O God, you have made of one blood all the peoples of the earth, and sent your blessed Son to preach peace to those who are far off and to those who are near: Grant that people everywhere may seek after you and find you; bring the nations into your fold; pour out your Spirit upon all flesh; and hasten the coming of your kingdom; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (BCP, 100, 257)
Daily Office Gospel, Mark 8.1-10
8:1In those days when there was again a great crowd without anything to eat, he called his disciples and said to them, 2‘I have compassion for the crowd, because they have been with me now for three days and have nothing to eat. 3If I send them away hungry to their homes, they will faint on the way—and some of them have come from a great distance.’ 4His disciples replied, ‘How can one feed these people with bread here in the desert?’ 5He asked them, ‘How many loaves do you have?’ They said, ‘Seven.’ 6Then he ordered the crowd to sit down on the ground; and he took the seven loaves, and after giving thanks he broke them and gave them to his disciples to distribute; and they distributed them to the crowd. 7They had also a few small fish; and after blessing them, he ordered that these too should be distributed. 8They ate and were filled; and they took up the broken pieces left over, seven baskets full. 9Now there were about four thousand people. And he sent them away. 10And immediately he got into the boat with his disciples and went to the district of Dalmanutha.
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
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