Items for the week of Sunday, August 2nd

This past Sunday, August 2^nd, was the 10^th Sunday after Pentecost

We heard the following scripture readings, introduction, and prayer of the day during the Sunday morning worship service:

Introduction

In today’s first reading God invites all who are hungry or thirsty to receive food and drink without cost. Jesus feeds the hungry multitude and reveals the abundance of God. At the eucharistic table we remember all who are hungry or poor in our world today. As we share the bread of life, we are sent forth to give ourselves away as bread for the hungry.

Prayer of the Day

Glorious God, your generosity waters the world with goodness, and you cover creation with abundance. Awaken in us a hunger for the food that satisfies both body and spirit, and with this food fill all the starving world; through your Son, Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.

Scripture

Isaiah 55:1-5 – Eat and drink that which truly satisfies

Psalm 145:8-9, 14-21 – You open wide your hand and satisfy the desire of every living thing. (Ps. 145:16)

Romans 9:1-5 – The glory of God’s people Israel

Matthew 14:13-21 –Christ feeding five thousand

The Message

If you would like a transcript of the message, please let the office know.

Devotion for the Week

True Abundance

In our gospel reading, Jesus hears about John the Baptizer’s death and wants to be alone, to withdraw “to a deserted place” (Matthew 14:13). But the crowds follow him, the disciples follow him, and it seems everyone wants something from him. Jesus’ response is compassionate, and he meets their needs, healing those who were sick. Then evening falls, and the disciples come to him with a request: “You’ve healed everyone. Now send them home. They can buy food in the villages for themselves.”

Some compassion is needed here for the disciples too. With the twelve of them plus Jesus, there are at least thirteen people to feed with what they have—just five loaves and two fish. That’s not enough even for them.

So Jesus does this miracle—he takes what he is given and multiplies it so everyone has something to eat, and there are twelve baskets left over. (Twelve baskets means one for each disciple to carry and then realize that true abundance comes from Jesus!)

The miracle fed the people, but it also taught the disciples that, with Jesus, there is always compassion and always enough to share. After feeding the thousands, each disciple now had a basket full of food. By sharing what they had, through Jesus they received back more than they had to begin with.

This is the true message of Matthew’s text today: God gives us what we need, we share what we have with others, and in the end, we are given more than we could ever imagine. This is loving the neighbor. This is being God’s grace in the world. At no time is sending people away God’s answer. Jesus taught his disciples this important lesson, and we continue to learn and struggle with it today.