2nd Passiontide 2021, Eucharist of the Ordinary

2^nd Passiontide

John 6:1-15 

After this, Jesus crossed to the far

Margareta Woloschina

shore of the Sea of Galilee near Tiberius, and a great crowd of people followed him because they had seen the signs of the Spirit he had performed on those who were ill.

Then Jesus went up on the mountain and sat down there with his disciples. The Jewish Passover Feast was near.

When Jesus raised his eyes to the world of the Spirit and beheld how crowds of people were coming toward him, he said to Philip, "Where shall we buy bread, that all these people may eat?" He asked this to test his understanding and presence of mind, for he himself knew what he was going to do.

Philip answered him, "200 denarii [or, seven months wages] would not buy enough bread for them each to have only a little."

Another of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, spoke up, "A boy is here with five barley loaves and two small fish, but what are these among so many?"

Margareta Woloschina

Jesus said, "Let the
people sit down in groups." There was plenty of green grass in that place, and the men sat down, about five thousand of them. Jesus then took the loaves, gave thanks, and gave to those seated, likewise of the fish, as much as they wanted.

Now when they were satisfied, he said to his disciples, "Gather up the fragments, that nothing be lost." So, they gathered them, and they filled twelve baskets with the fragments of the five barley loaves left over by those who had eaten.

Seeing the sign that he had done, the people said, "Truly, this is the prophet who is to come into the world." When Jesus became aware that they intended to come and make him king by force, he withdrew again to the mountain alone by himself.

2^nd Passiontide

March 14, 2021

John 6:1-15

The Jewish Passover Feast celebrates the Hebrew peoples’ escape from the tenth plague—the death of their first-born. The blood of a lamb was smeared on the doorpost as a sign to the angel of death to pass over their house.  As a result of this plague, they and their children were released from bondage in Egypt.

Grunewald

In today’s gospel reading, the approaching

Passover feast of the year 33 will be different. The lamb will be Christ Himself, whose innocent selfless blood will be poured into the earth to keep her alive and free human beings from the death of matter. Meanwhile, Jesus raises His eyes in spirit vision and sees all of those human beings of future ages who will need strengthening nourishment to keep their souls alive.

In the reading, it is evening. One by one, the stars come out. The people sit near the Sea of Galilee, on the lush spring grass. Christ draws down the formative, healing, and revitalizing power that pours down from

Margareta Woloschina

His Father through the stars. These living forces Christ draw into bread and fish, into a form that can be taken in by human beings. The life in them is so potent that it takes very little to satisfy their hunger.

At His Last Supper, on Holy Thursday, He will pour that same power into Bread and Wine and make them bearers of the form of His body and the enlivening power of His blood. And along with them, He will pour His soul’s deep and selfless love.

Indeed, Christ is still drawing down living forces from the stars. He is still pouring His love into bread and wine. He wants to release us from the bondage of the mundane, of the ordinary. In the words of John O’Donohue:

We seldom notice how each day is a holy place

Where the eucharist of the ordinary happens,

Transforming our broken fragments

Into an eternal continuity that keeps us.*

 

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*John O’Donohue, “ The Inner History of a Day” in To Bless the Space Between Us

 

  

2nd Passiontide II 2020, More Than Enough

2^nd Passiontide

John 6:1-15

After this, Jesus crossed to the far shore of the Sea of Galilee near Tiberius, and a great crowd of people followed him because they had seen the signs of the spirit, which he had performed on those who were ill.

Then Jesus went up on the mountain and sat down there with his disciples. The Jewish Passover Feast was near.

Speyerer Gospel

When Jesus raised his eyes to the world of the spirit and beheld how crowds of people were coming toward him, he said to Philip, “Where shall we buy bread, that all these people may eat?”

He asked this to test his understanding and presence of mind, for he himself knew what he was going to do. Philip answered him, “200 denarii [seven months wages] would not buy enough bread for them each to have only a little.”

Another of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, spoke up: “A boy is here with five barley loaves and two small fish, but what are these among so many?”

Jesus said, “Let the people sit down in groups.” There was plenty of green grass in that place, and the men sat down, about five thousand of them. Jesus then took the loaves, gave thanks, and gave to those who were seated, likewise of the fish, as much as they wanted.

Now when they were satisfied, he said to his disciples, “Gather up the fragments, that nothing be lost.” So, they gathered them, and they filled twelve baskets with the fragments of the five barley loaves left over by those who had eaten. Seeing the sign that he had done, the people said, “Truly, this is the prophet who is to come into the world.”

When Jesus became aware that they intended to come and make him king by force, he withdrew again to the mountain alone by himself.

2^nd Passiontide

March 24, 2020

John 6:1-15

To maintain our earthly existence, we must eat. Some saints have been able to exist by taking in no other bread but Communion. We ask ourselves how this is possible.

In the gospel reading, Christ’s question to Philip – where shall we buy bread – is, in essence, a question about whether nourishment can only be mediated by the earthly, by money. And Philip’s answer is accurate enough on the material level—seven months' wages would not be sufficient to buy bread for so many.

Woloschina

However, the answer to how to feed the people can also have another starting point: a young boy’s gift, five barley loaves, made from spring’s first harvest, two fish from the watery element. In paradisal Galilee, the people sit in an elevated place, on green grass, between heaven and earth, as the sun is going down. The first stars become visible. And to what seems to be very little bread in earthly terms, Christ, with gratitude, adds what truly feeds us—the Father’s Light, His Life, His Love from the realm of the stars.

Christ leads hearts into an awareness of the hidden realm of pure Life itself. The life realm is where living things multiply, thirty, sixty, a hundredfold. It is a realm of more than enough. The material part of bread is a necessary carrier, but a bite, a crumb of living bread suffices. What nourishes, what satisfies our heart’s most profound need, is the thirty, sixty, hundredfold Life in it.

It is also quite possible that in this realm of more than enough, the people too were able to offer what they had brought. They multiplied the gift. Filled with the Christ blessing, there was more than enough; there was enough left over to show them, and us, that our real nourishment is mediated, not only through the forces of the earth but through the living forces of the Father’s circle of the stars. There is more than enough, to show that

‘…What in the bread doth feed,

Is God’s Eternal Word, His Life, His Light, His Deed.*

Even at home, we can consecrate ourselves today. We can offer and receive our nourishment in gratitude. Through our gratitude, we allow Christ to bless and fill our daily bread with his Life. For us, too, more than enough will be all that we need to live. 

*After Angelus Silesius

www.thechristiancommunity.org

2nd Passiontide 2020, Infinite Meadows

2^nd Passiontide

John 6:1–15

After this, Jesus crossed to the far shore of the Sea of Galilee near Tiberius, and a great crowd of people followed him because they had seen the signs of the spirit, which he had performed on those who were ill.

Then Jesus went up on the mountain and sat down there with his disciples. The Jewish Passover Feast was near.

Woloschina

When Jesus raised his eyes to the world of the spirit and beheld how crowds of people were coming toward him, he said to Philip, “Where shall we buy bread, that all these people may eat?”

He asked this to test his understanding and presence of mind, for he himself knew what he was going to do. Philip answered him, “200 denarii [seven months wages] would not buy enough bread for them each to have only a little.”

Another of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, spoke up: “A boy is here with five barley loaves and two small fish, but what are these among so many?”

Jesus said, “Let the people sit down in groups.” There was plenty of green grass in that place, and the men sat down, about five thousand of them. Jesus then took the loaves, gave thanks, and gave to those who were seated, likewise of the fish, as much as they wanted.

Now when they were satisfied, he said to his disciples, “Gather up the fragments, that nothing be lost.” So, they gathered them, and they filled twelve baskets with the fragments of the five barley loaves left over by those who had eaten. Seeing the sign that he had done, the people said, “Truly, this is the prophet who is to come into the world.”

When Jesus became aware that they intended to come and make him king by force, he withdrew again to the mountain alone by himself.2nd Passiontide

March 22, 2020

John 6:1–15

Woloschina

These difficult times are creating an odd opportunity: instead of eating out, many are finding it necessary to cook at home. The opportunity lies in the possibility of infusing the food we create with the love that we feel for ourselves and our families. It is this element of love that is the true nourishment for body and soul.

In today’s gospel reading Christ pointedly asks, ‘Where shall we buy bread that all these people may eat?’ And Philip answers that seven months’ wages would not be enough. I think Christ was trying to point to the inadequacy of trying to nourish human bodies and souls with money alone.

To thrive, we need so much more. We desperately need the soul mood of gratitude for that which we do have, however little it may seem. We need to contribute to the atmosphere of generosity, of magnanimous giving, as much as people want, as much as God wants.

In the Gospel, the people are seated on a grassy meadow. It is evening. The stars come out. Longfellow said,

Silent, one by one,

in the infinite meadows of heavens,

blossomed the lovely stars,

the forget-me-nots of angels.

And Emerson said: “If the stars should appear one night in a thousand years, how would men believe and adore; and preserve for many generations the remembrance of the city of God which had been shown! But every night come out these envoys of beauty and light the universe with their admonishing smile.”**

The night sky as meadow and city. The twelve basketsful gathered in the gospel were the leftover abundance of the star bread from the heavens, the city of the Father.

With gratitude and with greatness of heart, we can access what truly nourishes us: the life-giving love from the stars. For God’s essence and the nature of His Son is overflowing abundance itself. But we must first take our place in the greater, healthy order of things. We must open our hearts in gratitude and generosity, toward God, toward our fellow human beings, and toward the kingdoms of nature below us.

*Longfellow: Evangeline

** Emerson, Nature, Chapter 1

www.thechristiancommunity.org

2nd Passiontide 2007, More Than Enough

2^nd Passiontide

Kenneth Dowdy

John 6: 1-15

After this, Jesus crossed to the far shore of the Sea of Galilee near Tiberius and a great crowd of people followed him because they had seen the signs of the spirit, which he had performed on those who were ill.

Then Jesus went up on the mountain and sat down there with his disciples. The Jewish Passover Feast was near.

When Jesus raised his eyes to the world of the spirit, and beheld how crowds of people were coming toward him, he said to Philip, “Where shall we buy bread, that all these people may eat?”

He asked this to test his understanding and presence of mind, for he himself knew what he was going to do. Philip answered him, “200 denarii [seven months wages] would not buy enough bread for them each to have only a little.”

Another of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, spoke up: “A boy is here with five barley loaves and two small fish, but what are these among so many?”

Jesus said, “Let the people sit down in groups.” There was plenty of green grass in that place, and the men sat down, about five thousand of them. Jesus then took the loaves, gave thanks, and gave to those who were seated, likewise of the fish, as much as they wanted.

Now when they were satisfied, he said to his disciples, “Gather up the fragments, that nothing be lost.” So, they gathered them, and they filled twelve baskets with the fragments of the five barley loaves left over by those who had eaten. Seeing the sign that he had done, the people said, “Truly, this is the prophet who is to come into the world.”

When Jesus became aware that they intended to come and make him king by force, he withdrew again to the mountain alone by himself.

2^nd Passiontide

March 18, 2007

John 6: 1-15

To maintain our earthly existence, we must eat. There are saints who have been able to exist by taking in no other bread but Communion. We ask ourselves how this is possible.

In the gospel reading, Christ’s question to Philip – where shall we buy bread – is in essence a question about whether nourishment can only be mediated by the earthly, by money. And Philip’s answer is accurate on the earthly level—seven months wages would not be enough to feed so many.

Woloschin

However, the answer to how to feed the people can also have another starting point: a young boy’s gift, five barley loaves, made from spring’s first harvest, two fish from the watery element. In paradisal Galilee, the people sit in an elevated place, on green grass, between heaven and earth, as the sun is going down. The first stars become visible. And to what seems to be very little bread in earthly terms, Christ, with gratitude, adds what truly feeds us—the Father’s light, His life, His love from the realm of the stars. Christ leads the peoples’ hearts into an awareness of the realm of pure Life itself. The life realm is where living things multiply, thirty, sixty, a hundredfold. It is a realm of more than enough. The material part of bread is a necessary carrier; but a bite, a crumb of living bread suffices; what nourishes, what satisfies our heart’s deepest need, is the thirty, sixty, hundredfold life in it.

It is also quite possible that in this realm of more than enough, the people too were able to offer what they had brought. They multiplied the gift. Filled with the Christ blessing, there was more than enough; there was enough left over to show them, and us, that our true nourishment is mediated, not only through the forces of the earth, but through the living forces of the Father’s circle of the stars. There is more than enough, in order to show that

‘…What in the bread doth feed,

Is God’s Eternal Word, His life, His light, His deed.[1]

In consecrating ourselves today, we offer and receive in gratitude. We partake in a process wherein Christ blesses and fills bread with his Life. One day, for us too, more than enough will be all that we need to live. 

www.thechristiancommunity.org

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[1] After Angelus Silesius

2nd Passiontide 2014, Eucharist of the Ordinary

2^nd Passiontide

John 6: 1-15

After this, Jesus crossed to the far shore of the Sea of Galilee near Tiberius and a great crowd of people followed him because they had seen the signs of the spirit, which he had performed on those who were ill.

Then Jesus went up on the mountain and sat down there with his disciples. The Jewish Passover Feast was near.

When Jesus raised his eyes to the world of the spirit, and beheld how crowds of people were coming toward him, he said to Philip, “Where shall we buy bread, that all these people may eat?”

He asked this to test his understanding and presence of mind, for he himself knew what he was going to do. Philip answered him, “200 denarii [seven months wages] would not buy enough bread for them each to have only a little.”

Woloschina

Another of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, spoke up: “A boy is here with five barley loaves and two small fish, but what are these among so many?”

Jesus said, “Let the people sit down in groups.” There was plenty of green grass in that place, and the men sat down, about five thousand of them. Jesus then took the loaves, gave thanks, and gave to those who were seated, likewise of the fish, as much as they wanted.

Now when they were satisfied, he said to his disciples, “Gather up the fragments, that nothing be lost.” So, they gathered them, and they filled twelve baskets with the fragments of the five barley loaves left over by those who had eaten. Seeing the sign that he had done, the people said, “Truly, this is the prophet who is to come into the world.”

When Jesus became aware that they intended to come and make him king by force, he withdrew again to the mountain alone by himself.

2^nd Passiontide

March 30, 2014

John 6: 1-15

The Jewish Passover Feast celebrates the Hebrew peoples’ escape from the tenth plague—the death of their first-born. The blood of a lamb was smeared on the doorpost as a sign to the angel of death to pass over their house.  As a result of this plague, they were released from their bondage in Egypt.

In today’s gospel reading, the approaching Passover feast of the year 33 will be different. The lamb will be Christ Himself, whose innocent and selfless blood will be poured into the earth to keep her alive, and to free human beings from the death of matter. But meanwhile Jesus raises his eyes in spirit vision and sees all of those human beings of future ages who will need strengthening nourishment to help keep their souls alive.

Woloschina

In the reading, it is evening. One by one the stars come out. The people sit near the Sea of Galilee, on the lush spring grass. Christ draws down the formative, healing and enlivening power of the stars. These living forces he draws into bread and fish, down into a form that can be taken in by human beings. The life in them is so potent that it takes very little to satisfy their hunger.

At His last supper, on Holy Thursday, He will pour that same power into Bread and Wine, and make them bearers of His body and His enlivening blood. Along with the stars and his own living forces He will pour into them His soul’s deep and selfless love.

In fact He is still drawing down living forces from the stars. He is still pouring His love into bread and wine. He wants to release us from the bondage of the mundane, the bondage of the ordinary. In the words of John O’Donohue:

We seldom notice how each day is a holy place

Where the eucharist of the ordinary happens,

Transforming our broken fragments

Into an eternal continuity that keeps us.[1]


www.thechristiancommunity.org

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[1] John O’Donohue, “ The Inner History of a Day” in To Bless the Space Between Us