Embodying God’s Generous Compassion
- davidwperk
- Jun 6, 2024
- 6 min read
Devotional Reflection,Thursday, June 6, 2024
Proper 4, the week of the Second Sunday after Pentecost
The Rev. David W. Perkins, Th.D.
Key phrases for reflection from today’s Gospel reading:
14When he went ashore, he saw a great crowd; and he had compassion for them and cured their sick. 15When 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.’ 16Jesus said to them, ‘They need not go away; you give them something to eat.’ . . . .
19Then 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.
You will find the full text of today’s Gospel reading at the end of this reflection.
Daily Office Lectionary Readings (BCP, 968)
AM Psalm 50; PM Psalm [59, 60] or 8, 84
Eccles. 3:16-4:3; Gal. 3:1-14; Mat. 14:13-21
Today we celebrate the Feast of Ini Kopuria. (See below.)
David’s Reflections
Julia Cameron has said: "Looking at God's creation, it is pretty clear that the creator itself did not know when to stop. There is not one pink flower, or even fifty pink flowers, but hundreds. Snowflakes, of course, are the ultimate exercise of sheer creative glee. No two alike. This creator looks suspiciously like someone who just might send us support for our creative ventures." *
How easily we can forget our creator’s generosity and the fruitfulness of God’s world. How threatened we can feel in the face of God’s call for radical action that assumes this abundance and this generosity? In today’s Gospel, the disciples wanted to send the crowd away. They were weary (see Mark’s account in chapter 6), and they could not begin to envision how God’s abundance would break forth in that sparse wilderness place. That desire correlates with our oft-felt despair in the church about a mission to unbelievers and those with wavering faith. The needs feel overwhelming and the resources look so limited.
Jesus responded to their despair with words that must have felt unbearably challenging. “They need not go away; you give them something to eat.” The disciples probably possessed barely enough for their own meal much less morsels for such a horde of hungering people. How many people have gone away unfed with the bread of life because we have lacked confidence in God’s abundance and could not rise above our own fatigue and despair?
However, they did do a bit of asset mapping. “We have nothing here but five loaves and two fish.” And, they did respond to Jesus’ word, “Bring them here to me.” What enlightenment we find here for a proper response to our despair at overwhelming need and limited resources. First, we measure our resources. What has God’s abundance already put in our hands that we are not seeing? Second, we offer them and ourselves to God in faith that God will work the miracle of abundance-creating grace with the resources we offer.
Does that not encourage? The church always will have resources adequate to her challenge and her mission. When the temptation comes to ignore or avoid witness and service, we recall Jesus’ words. “They need not go away; you give them something to eat.” We will bring our loaves and fishes to Jesus and trust in the multiplying grace of the God of abundance. Then, we will join in sharing that abundance with those hungering for God’s saving love. (Note the two collects for guidance below.)
Jesus embodied God’s generous compassion. His inner being trembled with compassion on this day in the face of this overwhelming crowd and their need for healing and for nutrition. When we respond to the crushing needs around us by asset mapping and by offering ourselves and all we have to God, we are embodying God’s generous compassion.
* Julia Cameron, The Artist's Way: A Spiritual Path to Higher Creativity (New York: Tarcher/Putnam, 1992), p. 107.
Collect of the Day, Proper 4, the third Sunday after Pentecost
O God, your never-failing providence sets in order all things both in heaven and earth: Put away from us, we entreat you, all hurtful things, and give us those things which are profitable for us; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. (BCP, 229)
Today we celebrate the Feast of Ini Kopuria, founder of the Melanesian Brotherhood (died June 1945).
Collect of the Feast of Ini Kopuria
Loving God, we bless your Name for the witness of Ini Kopuria, founder of the Melanesian Brotherhood: Open our eyes that we, with these Anglican brothers, may establish peace and hope in service to others; for the sake of Jesus Christ, who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
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)
Guidance into the Future
O God, who has made us creatures of time, so that every tomorrow is unknown country, and every decision a venture in faith. Grant us, frail children of the day, who are yet blind to the future, to move toward it in the sure confidence of your love, from which neither life nor death can ever separate us. Amen.
(Reinhold Niebuhr, cited by Elizabeth R. Geitz, Calling Clergy: A Spiritual and Practical Guide Through the Search Process (New York: Church Publishing, 2007), p. xii.)
A Prayer for Light
O Lord God Almighty, as you have taught us to call the evening, the morning, and the noonday one day; and have made the sun to know its going down: Dispel the darkness of our hearts, that by your brightness we may know you to be the true God and eternal light, living and reigning for ever and ever. Amen. (BCP, 110)
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, Matthew 14:13-21
13 Now when Jesus heard this, 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. 14When he went ashore, he saw a great crowd; and he had compassion for them and cured their sick. 15When 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.’ 16Jesus said to them, ‘They need not go away; you give them something to eat.’ 17They replied, ‘We have nothing here but five loaves and two fish.’ 18And he said, ‘Bring them here to me.’ 19Then 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. 20And all ate and were filled; and they took up what was left over of the broken pieces, twelve baskets full. 21And those who ate were about five thousand men, besides women and children.
Daily Offices in the Book of Common Prayer
Morning Prayer, Rite 2, page 75, The Book of Common Prayer
Noonday Prayer, page 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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