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.
And the apostles returned and reported to Jesus
everything that they had accomplished. So he gathered them to himself and
retreated with them to a city called Bethsaida for special
instruction. But the people became aware of it and followed him. He welcomed
them and spoke to them of the Kingdom of God of the future, of the human
kingdom on earth filled with the divine spirit, and he healed all who had need
of it.
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| Boy with Loaves and Fish, Woloschina |
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.
August
17, 2008
4th August Trinity
Luke 9: 1-17
For one’s birthday one might invite friends to celebrate.
They of course will bring gifts; but traditionally the birthday person also offers
gifts: food and drink, and also the small gifts in return we call party favors.
One both receives, and one gives. In some cultures, there is a celebration in
which the birthday person, instead of receiving gifts, bestows lavish gifts on
all the participants. In yet other cultures, one may have a celebration in
which one gives away all of one’s possessions.
We are at the time of the year when we have received the
call to a
celebration of new life. We have recognized that Jesus is the Christ,
the Risen One. In Him we receive new life. And this new life is not just
something we receive. The overflowing joy of a new life (and is not every new
day the gift of a new life?) is something we want to share. In the gospel
reading, this sharing manifests as the capacity for enthusiasm and healing. One
receives and one gives. And when one receives more, one is also empowered to
give more.
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| Egbert Codex |
In today’s gospel reading, Christ says to His disciples, “From
now on, it falls to you. You give the people to eat…And raising His soul to the
spirit, He gave thanks, broke them [the loaves] and gave them to his disciples
to distribute to the people.” Luke 9:13, 16
Our love for God, our enthusiasm, our capacity to help heal
the world’s ills, is meant to flow through us and out into the world. The bread
of God’s love feeds the world; the blood of God’s love is meant to circulate.
Mechthild of Magdeburg said,
To the extent that we flow outward
with the full
abundance of our hearts, and give
our complete substance
to the poor, and spend our lives in
service to the sick, we
are the Holy Spirit who is made
manifest
as the abundant outpouring of the
Father and the Son.[1]
[1]
Mechthild of Magdeburg
(1260 – 1294?) “How We Become Like God”, in Love’s
Immensity, by Scott Cairns, p. 95.
