Morning Devotion for the Season after Pentecost
November 10, 2021
The Invitatory
“Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.”
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son: and to the Holy Ghost;
As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be: world without end. Amen.
Praise ye the Lord.
The Lord's Name be praised.
Reading: Matthew 15:29-39
After Jesus had left that place, he passed along the Sea of Galilee, and he went up the mountain, where he sat down. Great crowds came to him, bringing with them the lame, the maimed, the blind, the mute, and many others. They put them at his feet, and he cured them, so that the crowd was amazed when they saw the mute speaking, the maimed whole, the lame walking, and the blind seeing. And they praised the God of Israel.
Then Jesus called his disciples to him and said, ‘I have compassion for the crowd, because they have been with me now for three days and have nothing to eat; and I do not want to send them away hungry, for they might faint on the way.’ The disciples said to him, ‘Where are we to get enough bread in the desert to feed such a great crowd?’ Jesus asked them, ‘How many loaves have you?’ They said, ‘Seven, and a few small fish.’ Then ordering the crowd to sit down on the ground, he took the seven loaves and the fish; and after giving thanks he broke them and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds. And all of them ate and were filled; and they took up the broken pieces left over, seven baskets full. Those who had eaten were four thousand men, besides women and children. After sending away the crowds, he got into the boat and went to the region of Magadan.
Meditation: Jo Ann B. Jones
This passage demonstrates what Jesus is up against and just how pervasive, deep-seated and compelling our identities and the attitudes towards others are that rise from them. We can examine those feelings as Jesus demonstrates what it means to lay them aside for the sake of the Gospel.It is important to note that this one of two miracles of feeding the multitudes occurs in Gentile territory. It is interesting for us, standing outside of this passage, for we do not harbor quite the same feelings about the Gentiles as the Jews of Jesus’ day do. Let us examine our feelings for whatever group we might harbor the slightest dislike.
That this feeding is set in Gentile territory partially explains why this multitude miracle pales in comparison to its larger twin. It is not just overshadowed by the numbers, but also in significance. Jesus heals, feeds and feels compassion for the Gentiles. Interestingly, Matthew’s Gospel speaks to two themes: preserving Jesus’ Jewish identity and going to the “lost sheep of Israel.”
Throughout Matthew Gentiles are portrayed in a positive light: four Gentile mothers are featured in Jesus’ genealogy; the magi seek and worship him; the Centurion pronounces, “Surely, he was the Son of God.” The Canaanite woman has a direct encounter with Jesus immediately preceding this passage. Sometimes the people we would prefer to overlook, if not outright scorn, hold the key to the faith we profess to have ourselves.
For three days, Jesus has spent time with the Gentiles and teaching them about God, in fulfillment of the ancient promise that “all peoples on earth will be blessed,’ This promise is kept in Christ: “A light for the Gentiles and glory for His people, Israel.” This revelation deserves celebration. But there is more than revelation or celebration to be recognized. Jesus’ incarnation means nothing if in some fashion it does not address humanity. And that means humanity over identity. (Now our own wrestling begins.)
And the disciples are more than happy and able to take up our parts. For it is so easy to beg off from addressing humanity by taking care of what we perceive to be the practicalities. Where to find enough bread? They do not allow for the possibility of what they can offer from what they already possess. The disciples should look broadly. It is never realistic to discount
Jesus or count him out. It isn’t even rational to do so. They have forgotten how he works miracles with so little to yield much. For the only reason that such a feeding could occur for Gentile and Jew, a reason that will be revealed much later to them, is that Jesus has paid the cost on the cross. He was turned away empty. We, Jew and Gentile, received his compassion that he deserved. We were fed a banquet that he made of himself. Ambrose wrote: “The Savior will multiply the little you have many times beyond expectations. Though you give but little, you will receive much.”
The Lord's Prayer
Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy Name.
Thy kingdom come, thy will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the Kingdom, the power and the glory,
for ever and ever. Amen.
