Inviting All to Feast on Christ’s Presence
- davidwperk
- Nov 15, 2023
- 7 min read
Devotional Reflection, Wednesday, November 15, 2023
Proper 27, the week of the twenty-fourth Sunday after Pentecost
The Rev. David W. Perkins, Th.D.
Key phrases for reflection from today’s reading:
32Then Jesus called his disciples to him and said, ‘I have compassion for the crowd, because they have been with me now for three days and have nothing to eat; and I do not want to send them away hungry, for they might faint on the way.’ . . . . 34Jesus asked them, ‘How many loaves have you?’ They said, ‘Seven, and a few small fish.’ 35Then ordering the crowd to sit down on the ground, 36he took the seven loaves and the fish; and after giving thanks he broke them and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds. 37And all of them ate and were filled; and they took up the broken pieces left over, seven baskets full.
You will find the full text of today’s Gospel reading at the end of this reflection.
Daily Office Lectionary Readings (BCP, 992)
AM Psalm 119:97-120; PM Psalm 81, 82
Neh. 7:73b-8:3,5-18; Rev. 18:21-24; Matt. 15:29-39
Today we celebrate the Feast of Francis Asbury and George Whitfield. (See below.)
David's Reflections
Immediately after the episode of Jesus’ encounter with the nonJewish woman of Syro-Phonecia (yesterday's Gospel), Matthew and Mark narrate a second feeding miracle, this one with slightly different numbers and a different setting.The previous feeding of the 5,000 took place on Jewish soil. This feeding of 4,000 took place on nonJewish, Gentile turf. (This detail is less clearly expressed in Matthew’s telling of this story.) This probably was not a second, separate miracle, but a doubling of the original feeding to underline the point that God seeks all people, Jew and Gentile alike. (Luke and John also relate this miracle, making a total of six occurrences in the Gospels, which certainly underlines its importance to the earliest Christians.)
The Gospel writers underline a shift of consciousness that took place in the early faith communities after the resurrection. Jesus' mission focused on Israel, on the Jewish homeland, but his intent reached much farther. He desired to include in the reach of God's saving love people like the Canaanite woman, a nonJew with an appetite for God more ravenous than that of many of Jesus' own people. The earliest church, as reflected in Paul’s Epistles, Acts, and the shaping of the Gospel narratives (like this miracle), managed to transcend its Jewish roots and become inclusive of nonJews.
Everyone who comes under the influence of a faith community witness will not respond, in spite of God’s intent to draw all to a relationship with God. Each of us comes in contact daily with people living outside that experience of God's saving love. Jesus' intent is that everyone be included. This feeding miracle speaks to that. His outstretched arms on the Cross speak of God's encircling embrace.
We must be sensitive in our daily contacts to those who share the SyroPhonecian woman’s heart hunger for God. Obviously, we want to be emboldened to share what Jesus means to us whenever the opportunity arises. Some people will become hungry for the first time when they experience God's love in us, like someone smelling freshly baking bread and realizing they haven't had breakfast. Others already are hungry and know it.
If we pray for Jesus to heighten our sensitivity each day, we will begin noticing those people. If we resolve to relate meaningfully to them and include them in our circle of friends and acquaintances, we will be valuing them as people. If we pray for opportunity, a way will open for us to share without being intrusive. If we pray for holy courage, we will swallow that lump in our throat and ease into the opportune moment with a word about how God's love has become real to us or with an invitation to worship with us. In the service of Holy Eucharist, they will experience God’s invitation to the feast of love and salvation.
Jesus learned from his encounter with this woman (see yesterday's reflection). He discovered God’s Spirit at work in a most unlikely place. We, too, can learn from encounter with those with an appetite for God and for faith. If we listen deeply, we will understand them and their perspective, and, in deep listening, we will be extending hospitality to them.We will find God's presence there drawing them with loving arms. We will be talking to the Christ in them, hoping that they awaken to that presence. We can think of ourselves as assisting Jesus in the distribution of bread and fish to feed the multitude.
A personal note. Thanks to the influence of Ben Campbell Johnson in his book Speaking of God: Evangelism as Initial Spiritual Guidance (Westminster/John Knox, 1991), I do not initiate a conversation about spiritual matters. If the other person initiates that theme, then I am free to engage with it without seeming intrusive. (https://www.amazon.com/Speaking-God-Evangelism-Spiritual-Guidance/dp/0664252001/ref=sr_1_4?keywords=Ben+Campbell+Johnson&qid=1636549931&qsid=139-3525943-3930308&sr=8-4&sres=0835810119%2C0802846521%2CB003A83PXS%2C0664252001%2C0849930235%2C1948578603%2C0802846637%2CB07CR1GVBQ%2C0664501176%2C1492943487%2C1931551022%2CB00MAOM08Y%2C1439248869%2CB0146V0WW4%2CB00MAOYWIK%2C1500564761&srpt=ABIS_BOOK)
A second note.We are not recruiting people for church membership or marketing. Rather, we are seeking to extend God’s hospitality and love indiscriminately. We know that people need community for relationships, support, and nurture. But, we are not attempting to recruit them for our parish because we need givers or bodies. That would amount to exploitation. We do not apologize for being part of a faith community, and we want people to know that we welcome them without hesitation. But, we entrust people to God and trust that God will draw them into the community best suited to them. Inviting must not deteriorate into recruiting.
Collect of the Day, Proper 27, the twenty-fourth Sunday after Pentecost
O God, whose blessed Son came into the world that he might destroy the works of the devil and make us children of God and heirs of eternal life: Grant that, having this hope, we may purify ourselves as he is pure; that, when he comes again with power and great glory, we may be made like him in his eternal and glorious kingdom; where he lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. BCP, 236.
Today we celebrate the Feast of Francis Asbury (died 31 Mar 1816 CE) and George Whitfield (died 30 Sep 1770 CE), evangelists.
Collect of the Feast of Francis Asbury and George Whitfield
Holy God, you inspired Francis Asbury and George Whitfield with evangelical zeal through their faithful proclamation of the Gospel: Inspire us, we pray, by your Holy Spirit, that we, like them, may be eager to share your Good News and lead many to Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
A Collect for Peace
O God, the author of peace and lover of concord, to know you is eternal life and to serve you is perfect freedom: Defend us, your humble servants, in all assaults of our enemies; that we, surely trusting in your defense, may not fear the power of any adversaries; through the might of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (BCP, 99)
For the Poor and the Neglected
Almighty and most merciful God, we remember before you all poor and neglected persons whom it would be easy for us to forget: the homeless and the destitute, the old and the sick, and all who have none to care for them. Help us to heal those
who are broken in body or spirit, and to turn their sorrow into joy. Grant this, Father, for the love of your Son, who for our sake became poor, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (BCP 826)
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
Lord Jesus Christ, you stretched out your arms of love on the hard wood of the cross that everyone might come within the reach of your saving embrace: So clothe us in your Spirit that we, reaching forth our hands in love, may bring those who do not know you to the knowledge and love of you; for the honor of your Name. Amen. (BCP, 101)
Daily Office Gospel, Matthew 15:29-39
29 After Jesus had left that place, he passed along the Sea of Galilee, and he went up the mountain, where he sat down. 30Great crowds came to him, bringing with them the lame, the maimed, the blind, the mute, and many others. They put them at his feet, and he cured them, 31so that the crowd was amazed when they saw the mute speaking, the maimed whole, the lame walking, and the blind seeing. And they praised the God of Israel. 32Then Jesus called his disciples to him and said, ‘I have compassion for the crowd, because they have been with me now for three days and have nothing to eat; and I do not want to send them away hungry, for they might faint on the way.’ 33The disciples said to him, ‘Where are we to get enough bread in the desert to feed so great a crowd?’ 34Jesus asked them, ‘How many loaves have you?’ They said, ‘Seven, and a few small fish.’ 35Then ordering the crowd to sit down on the ground, 36he took the seven loaves and the fish; and after giving thanks he broke them and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds. 37And all of them ate and were filled; and they took up the broken pieces left over, seven baskets full. 38Those who had eaten were four thousand men, besides women and children. 39After sending away the crowds, he got into the boat and went to the region of Magadan.
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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