4th Trinity August
Luke 9: 1-17
He called the twelve together and gave to them
potent authority and formative power, so that they could work against all
demonic mischief, and heal all sickness.
And he sent them out to heal and to proclaim the Kingdom of God,
appearing now on earth, the kingdom of human beings filled with God’s spirit.
And he said to them, “Take nothing with you on the way: no staff for support, no bag for collecting, neither bread nor money, no change of clothes. If you enter a house, remain there until you go further. And where they do not accept you, leave their city and shake the dust from your feet as a sign that they have refused community with you.”
And he said to them, “Take nothing with you on the way: no staff for support, no bag for collecting, neither bread nor money, no change of clothes. If you enter a house, remain there until you go further. And where they do not accept you, leave their city and shake the dust from your feet as a sign that they have refused community with you.”
They left and walked through the villages of the
country, announcing the joyful message of the new working of the kingdom of the
angels and healing everywhere.
Meanwhile Herod the Tetrarch heard of all that was
happening and he was very perplexed, for some said, “John is risen from the
dead,” and others said that Elijah had appeared, and yet others, “One of the
Prophets of old has risen again.” And Herod said, “John I have had beheaded;
who now is this, about whom I hear all these things?” And he wished to see him
himself.
But the day began to decline. The twelve came up to
him and said, “Send the crowd away so that they can reach the villages and
farms in the vicinity and find food and lodging, for here we are in a deserted
place.” He however said to them, “From now on it falls to you; you give them to
eat.”
They answered, “We have nothing but five loaves and
two fish. Or shall we go and buy food for all of them?“ There were about five
thousand people.
Then he said to the disciples, “Have them sit down
in groups of fifty”. And they did so, and all reclined.
Then he took the five loaves and the two fish and,
raising his soul to the spirit, gave thanks, broke them, and gave them to his
disciples to distribute to the people. And they ate, and all were satisfied.
And they took up the pieces that remained: twelve baskets full.
4th August
Trinity
August 12, 2012
Luke 9:1-17
Here in the north, we are experiencing the long lit days of
summer. Long daylight hours and our
urban night-lit skies, veil our experience of the stars. This is unfortunate,
since there is nothing quite so majestic, more awe-inspiring, than the fullness
of the night sky. The stars, with their calm radiance, send us the message that
we are surrounded by hope. They are pouring their manifold influences into our
lives.
It is meaningful that today’s gospel reading begins with the
twelve apostles and ends with the twelve full baskets. For Christ works with
His Father’s light, His abundance of radiant life and love. They pour out of
the heavens to us through the twelve doorways of the stars. During the day,
Christ directs these powers into the apostles, as He sends them out with a
message of joy. And at night, as the day declines, He pours them into the five
loaves and two fish. He blesses them, strengthens them with words of gratitude
and of love. The people receive His loving, healing strength. There is more
than enough to go around. Their abundance fills twelve baskets full.
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| Book of Hours, Duke Berry |
Mary Oliver comments on this passage.
Why wonder about the loaves
and the fishes?
If you say the right words, the wine expands.
If you say them with love
and the felt ferocity of that love
and the felt necessity of that love,
the fish explode into the many.
Imagine him, speaking,
and don't worry about what is reality,
or what is plain, or what is mysterious.
If you were [are] there, it was [is] all those things.
…. Eat, drink,….
Accept the miracle.
Accept, too, each spoken word
spoken with love.[1]
If you say them with love
and the felt ferocity of that love
and the felt necessity of that love,
the fish explode into the many.
Imagine him, speaking,
and don't worry about what is reality,
or what is plain, or what is mysterious.
If you were [are] there, it was [is] all those things.
…. Eat, drink,….
Accept the miracle.
Accept, too, each spoken word
spoken with love.[1]
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