WATCHWORD:
5 When Jesus looked up and saw a great crowd coming toward him, he said to Philip, “Where shall we buy bread for these people to eat?” 6 He asked this only to test him, for he already had in mind what he was going to do. 7 Philip answered him, “It would take more than half a year’s wages[a] to buy enough bread for each one to have a bite!” 8 Another of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, spoke up, 9 “Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish, but how far will they go among so many?” 10 Jesus said, “Have the people sit down.” There was plenty of grass in that place, and they sat down (about five thousand men were there). 11 Jesus then took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed to those who were seated as much as they wanted. He did the same with the fish. 12 When they had all had enough to eat, he said to his disciples, “Gather the pieces that are left over. Let nothing be wasted.” 13 So they gathered them and filled twelve baskets with the pieces of the five barley loaves left over by those who had eaten. 14 After the people saw the sign Jesus performed, they began to say, “Surely this is the Prophet who is to come into the world.” 15 Jesus, knowing that they intended to come and make him king by force, withdrew again to a mountain by himself. John 6:5-15
Meditation:
Bread and Wine
In May of 1983, my father, who had been a minister in the United Church of Christ for nearly 60 years, wrote to Harper and Row Publishers in New York seeking permission to use a previously published poem, entitled Bread, in a book that he was compiling on practical religious philosophy. I don’t have a record of his request being granted. The book he had in mind never advanced beyond his collection of sermon notes and resources, when he passed away, five years later at age 94.
It took some doing, digging deep into the Internet and the resources of Amazon, but I found the little poem and determined that the author was, in fact, unknown.
Be gentle…when you touch bread.
Let it not lie…uncared for, unwanted.
So often…bread is taken for granted.
There is such beauty in bread;
beauty of sun and soil, beauty of patient toil.
Wind and sun have caressed it.
Christ often blessed it.
Be gentle…when you touch bread.
The words speak tenderly of the sacred moment in John 6 about the feeding of the 5,000. This miracle is referenced in all four of the Gospels. The early Church considered that a singular moment because it appears in one way or another in multiple accounts of Jesus’ ministry.
In my digging around I found that the little poem has been used multiple times in sermons and homilies and other religious writings, with or without permission. In addition, one person felt the need to add another stanza in order to balance the poem to “fit” the sacraments, adding the following regarding wine:
Be loving when you drink wine,
So freely receive and joyfully shared
in the spirit of Him who cared.
Warm as a flowing river,
shining as clear as the sun,
Deep as the soil of human toil.
Did the Winds and air caressed it,
Christ often blessed it.
Be loving when you drink wine.
The key words are “Gentle” and “Loving”, descriptors of our Lord and Shepherd. Words that come to mind when He teaches us to show all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love. We are reminded that the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.
God bless my dad. His legacy continues on in yellowed pages of a nearly forgotten book, while not published as he had hoped, yet elements of his “Practical Religious Philosophy” still echo, still honor God and deepen the heart for worship, whenever and wherever the Gospel is lifted up. Amen.
Bulletin Board:
I met a group of crazy people in a moon worshiping cult yesterday. They were Lunatics.
Do you know the story behind Indians worshipping cows ? Me neither but I’ve heard it’s an udderly fantastic tale!
What do you call people who worship cheese? Brielievers
(Sorry about these. I got the Covid second shot, and I’m just not thinking clearly. Wait! That’s normal for me. Forget the sorry.)
Closing Prayer:
Father, I praise You today for all that you have done in my life. You are faithful even when I am faithless. Your love pursues me even when I am unlovable. Your forgiveness covers my sin and frees me from its penalty. I praise You for your love and faithfulness to me.Your presence in my life changes everything, empowering me to live each moment of each day, content in knowing You are in control. As I face today, Lord, reminded me that no matter what happens, I can praise You. To you, Lord, I give all honor and glory, in the name of Jesus Christ, Lord and Savior. Amen.
