Miracles as Reminders and Prophecies

Devotional Reflection, Tuesday, January 2, 2024

Tuesday of the First Week after Christmas Day

The Rev. David W. Perkins, Th.D

Key phrases 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. 12When they were satisfied, he told his disciples, ‘Gather up the fragments left over, so that nothing may be lost.

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

Daily Office Lectionary Readings (BCP 941)

AM Psalm 34; PM Psalm 33

1 Kings 19:1-8; Eph. 4:1-16; John 6:1-14

Today we celebrate the Feast of Vedanayagam S. Azariah. (See below.)

David's Reflections

C. S. Lewis once made this trenchant observation about miracles:

"There is an activity of God displayed throughout creation, a wholesale activity let us say which (people) 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 (God) 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 of the 5,000 seems 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 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 story-tellers 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 would be nurtured by Jesus throughout time.

Today, join me in giving 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 provides all food and drink and that we eat and drink those gifts from God's own hand. And, this reminder pushes us out into engagement with those who are food challenged. Given God’s abundance no one need to hungry. Like those disciples, it’s up to us to join in with God in God’s loving feeding of all people.

Join me also in giving thanks for this miracle as prophecy, a prophecy that Jesus would be the living bread that feeds the souls of all believers.  And, join me in giving thanks for the recurring spiritual hungers that keep us returning to the only true bread. Join me also in giving thanks that in the full realization of God’s kingdom no one will go hungry.

This miracle gives us the best 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 Day, The First Sunday after Christmas Day

Almighty God, you have poured upon us the new light of your incarnate Word: Grant that this light, enkindled in our hearts, may shine forth in our lives; 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, 213)

Today we celebrate the Feast of Vedanayagam S. Azariah. first Indian Anglican bishop (died 1 Jan 1945 CE).

http://www.satucket.com/lectionary/VSAzariah.htm

Collect of the Feast of Vedanayagam S. Azariah

Emmanuel, God with us, making your home in every culture and community on earth: We thank you for raising up your servant Samuel Azariah as the first indigenous bishop in India. Grant that we may be strengthened by his witness to your love without concern for class or caste, and by his labors for the unity of the Church in India, that people of many languages and cultures might with one voice give you glory, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, now and for ever. Amen.

A Collect for Grace

Lord God, almighty and everlasting Father, you have brought us in safety to this new day: Preserve us with your mighty power, that we may not fall into sin, nor be overcome by adversity; and in all we do, direct us to the fulfilling of your purpose; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (BCP, 100)

For a Church Convention

Almighty and everlasting Father, you have given the Holy Spirit to abide with us for ever: Bless, we pray, with his grace and presence, the bishops and the other clergy and the laity to be assembled in your Name, that your Church, being preserved in true faith and godly discipline, may fulfill all the mind of him who loved it and gave himself for it, your Son Jesus Christ our Savior; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.  (BCP, 255)

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

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, 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 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