Feeding and being fed. I think of the new patterns we are all having to get used to acquire groceries. Being creative about what gets thrown in the pot. Always keeping an eye of the amount of key ingredients depending on when next we will be able to acquire more groceries. So many agencies both local and international, like PWRDF, are bringing to our attention the desperate need for food around the world. The Pandemic as exacerbated the already precarious living and working conditions for many people here in Canada and across the globe.
John, chapter 6, verses 1 to 15
1After this Jesus went to the other side of the Sea of Galilee, also called the Sea of Tiberias. 2A large crowd kept following him, because they saw the signs that he was doing for the sick. 3Jesus went up the mountain and sat down there with his disciples. 4Now the Passover, the festival of the Jews, was near.
5When he looked up and saw a large crowd coming towards him, Jesus said to Philip, ‘Where are we to buy bread for these people to eat?’ 6He said this to test him, for he himself knew what he was going to do. 7Philip answered him, ‘Six months’ wages would not buy enough bread for each of them to get a little.’ 8One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, said to him, 9‘There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish. But what are they among so many people?’ 10Jesus said, ‘Make the people sit down.’ Now there was a great deal of grass in the place; so they sat down, about five thousand in all. 11Then Jesus took the loaves, and when he had given thanks, he distributed them to those who were seated; so also the fish, as much as they wanted. 12When they were satisfied, he told his disciples, ‘Gather up the fragments left over, so that nothing may be lost.’ 13So they gathered them up, and from the fragments of the five barley loaves, left by those who had eaten, they filled twelve baskets. 14When the people saw the sign that he had done, they began to say, ‘This is indeed the prophet who is to come into the world.’ 15 When Jesus realized that they were about to come and take him by force to make him king, he withdrew again to the mountain by himself.
Reflection
Feeding and being fed. I think of the new patterns we are all having to get used to acquire groceries. Being creative about what gets thrown in the pot. Always keeping an eye of the amount of key ingredients depending on when next we will be able to acquire more groceries. So many agencies both local and international, like PWRDF, are bringing to our attention the desperate need for food around the world. The Pandemic as exacerbated the already precarious living and working conditions for many people here in Canada and across the globe.
Jesus and the disciples were watching the mob of people following them up the mountain. Jesus asks Philip, “How are we going to get enough bread to feed this crowd?” Philip responds with joke about how much it would cost.
Andrew notices that a boy has 2 fish and 5 loaves to share. Jesus takes the bread, blesses it, breaks it apart and shares it among the 5,000 men plus the women and children with them. It’s so hard not to interpret this story from a literal standpoint. The people are hungry. Food is gathered, blessed and shared. The people are full. And, there are leftovers.
Are we spiritually hungry? Being fed spiritually we might align with being in the church building, hearing the organ, singing, praying, wrapped within the history and ethos of the lovely building, together. And then sharing refreshments afterwards.
One thing we have been reminded of since the pandemic: The building is not the Church. We are the Church. We used to understand the mission field of the church to be far away. We donated money for missionaries of various sorts to go and minister to the people ——– over there, —– far away. While this was going on we were gathered in and around our buildings, raising money for local, national and international causes; we gathered socially and we worshipped together.
Now, we are being the church, in a more apparent way than even three months ago. I know as neighbours and friends you have always been calling and checking in with each other; but you are doing it more often and more intentionally now because of the self-isolation we are all facing. You have been offering to get food; and helping in other ways. Parishioners are letting me know they feel loved and cared for, because of what we are doing. Thank you! We are living out the Diocesan vision: Called to Life – Compelled to Love!
I invite you to think about what “church” is going to be like when we can gather together again? What have we learned from our collective pandemic experience? How are you being fed by what we are doing now? What would you like to continue? What more do we need to learn? How can we inform our future from our experiences of these months in self-isolation, and distancing.
For now we can “be” church together on Sunday mornings by watching Bishop Susan’s livestreamed service on Facebook at 10 am. Or we can watch the recorded version posted on YouTube by 2 pm. We will host a virtual coffee hour on Sunday about 15 minutes after the Bishop’s service.
If you know of parishioners with internet access, who haven’t shared their email address with the parish, tell them about this opportunity. If they give me their email address they can join in, too, using a computer, a tablet.
Also, look in your email box for a Sunday reflection and prayer, and hopefully one or two more each week, based on the readings of the day. (This is the second reflection for this week.)
Jesus is offering us food for our souls. Despite the restrictions on our living and the anxiety, worry and isolation we may be feeling, Jesus is feeding us. I invite you to notice how you are being nourished, and how you are feeling connected to Christ.
May the peace of Christ nourish you, guide you, and give you hope this day. AMEN.
Prayer
O Gracious God, we give thanks for all that we have and all that we are.
Help us as we are challenged in this time of pandemic.
We are challenged by being so isolated.
We are worried about how to acquire what we need.
We are concerned for family, friends and even ourselves
in the face of potential infection with the CoVid-19 virus.
Christ of Light and Love enrich our lives with your love,
envelop us with your compassion, challenge for us to understand
how we can do your work in our communities.
May we be mindful of the hungry not only in Dundas, but the in world.
Loving God, inspire us to live with hope, this day, and always. Amen.
Sue Nicolls, April 24, 2020