Tenth Sunday after Pentecost
Readings – II Samuel 11:1-15; Psalm 14; Ephesians 3:14-21; John 6:1-21
Our Gospel reading follows the readings and the presentation of last Sunday when I talked about “Minding the Gap” that appeared in the Gospel according to St. Mark. The focus on the feeding of the five thousand was in giving thanks for what we have before us, in sharing what we have, and in being self-giving leaders rather than being self-serving leaders.
In the Gospel according to St. John today we find some additional details in his writing of the same event. Jesus before addressing the gathering crowd “went up the mountain”. It recalls to us how Moses alone went up the mountain surrounded in cloud and mystery to receive the Ten Commandments and other laws for the people of Israel. In contrast here Jesus went up the mountain, and encouraged the people to sit down on the mountainside with him. Here Jesus did not give commandments and laws, but rather shared with them. gave thanks for the two barley loaves and two dried fish, and invited all to share in that late afternoon meal. John named the two disciples who helped set the stage for the feeding of the 5,000, Philip and Andrew, with a boy’s offering. John noted that they were loaves of barley, the bread of the poor. John concluded this telling of the story with the comment that all were satisfied, and then they wanted to proclaim Jesus as king.
Now our first reading from II Samuel gives us a perspective on the second king of Israel, David, the great king of Israel. From the roof of his house, he saw a woman bathing and commanded her to come to the palace and to his bed. Adultery for sure! Later when she informed him of her pregnancy, King David tried to trick her husband into thinking he was the father. When that failed, he sent Uriah, Bathsheba’s husband, into battle with the expectation that he would die. Murder for sure! No wonder Jesus rejected the crowd’s idea of making him king like David, and fled. In effect, Jesus was rejecting kingship for himself, and many would interpret this as the rejection of kingship for the people of Israel.
Next, there followed the disciples in the boat rowing across the sea to Capernaum. It was dark. The author John knew there were dark times facing the early church. He envisioned the early church as the boat on rough seas, rowing hard. These were not easy times; these were terrifying times though it was better to be in the boat than out in the open sea. In the midst of the sea and their difficult row, Jesus appeared, and all changed.
“It is I. Do not be afraid”. “Immediately the boat reached the land toward which they were going.”
John wrote to remind the early church and to reassure us, too, that with Jesus’ presence, all would be well. All will be well.
As we read about the lives of the very first disciples through the eyes of the author of the Gospel according to St. John, we can see ourselves, and we know the presence of Jesus among us, too.
“It is I. Do not be afraid”.
I conclude with Proper Collect #28.
Blessed Lord, who caused all holy Scriptures to be written for
our learning: Grant us so to hear, read, mark, learn and
inwardly digest them, that we may embrace and ever hold
fast the blessed hope of everlasting life, which you have
given us in our Savior Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with
you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.
Amen
