Lectionary Readings for July 25, 2021
Reading One: 2 Kings 4:42-44 (NRSV)
Song: He Shall Feed His Flock (lyrics unavailable, based on Isaiah 40:11 and Isaiah 53:6)
Reflection
Our (very short) reading from 2 Kings sets up the theme for this week in a simple yet powerful way. The story of the prophet Elisha providing a miraculous meal during a famine foreshadows the miraculous feeding miracles of Jesus, like the one from today’s gospel reading. It’s a story of God providing abundance from a meager offering, multiplying gifts in a display of supernatural provision.
In reading this story, we are reminded of the opening words from Psalm 23, which we read last week: “The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.” Elisha proves the truth of these words, delivering the promise of God that the people won’t go hungry, in fact there will be food left over.
As we enter into a week where the lectionary texts encourage us to consider the abundance of God’s gifts to us, spend some time thinking about how you have experienced this in your own life. In what ways has God “shown up” and provided for your needs in ways that were generous and surprising? Spend some moments before God in gratitude, thanking him for all the ways his abundance has been demonstrated in your life.
Reading Two: Psalm 145:10-18 (NRSV)
Song: Psalm 145 (The Hand of the Lord Feeds Us) (lyrics unavailable)
Reflection
The abundance of the Lord becomes impetus for worship in this passage from Psalm 145. This psalm by David is all about the greatness and goodness of God, declaring both God’s might and God’s generosity. These truths about God cause the psalmist to burst forth in a song of praise and gratitude, and he enjoins all of creation to join the song:
“All your works shall give thanks to you, O Lord,
and all your faithful shall bless you.” (v. 10)
This faithful and gracious God reaches out to those who stumble. He provides food for the hungry and salvation for the lost. He is just, kind , and close. Again, those who trust him lack nothing, as David proclaims in verse 16:
“You open your hand,
satisfying the desire of every living thing.”
There are some traditions that seem to paint God as a reluctant gift-giver, but David reminds us that nothing is further from the truth. It is God’s delight to provide for those who trust in him.
Have you ever struggled with this image of God as a stingy, distant, withholding deity? Have you ever doubted his ability to provide? His desire to provide? Spend some time in prayer asking God to reveal the depth of his love and his power to provide for what he knows you need.
Reading Three: Ephesians 3:14-21 (NRSV)
Song: Abundantly More (lyrics here)
Reflection
Here in Ephesians we find ourselves encountering one of the most familiar passages about God’s abundance:
“Now to him who by the power at work within us is able to accomplish abundantly far more than all we can ask or imagine, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.” (vv. 20-21)
The King James translation of this passage is very well-known, and it doubles down on the language by declaring God “is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think.”
The truth that God is able to do more than we can ask or imagine is one that we sometimes struggle with, especially in the face of seemingly unanswered prayer. I have seen this verse used to “claim” God’s miraculous power in a situation, only to leave people confused and disappointed when what they’ve “claimed” doesn’t come to pass.
We must be careful not to assume that God’s abundance in our lives will always result in our desired outcome. God knows our needs, and he also knows our desires. He also is at work unfolding his greater plan for our lives and for the world. Not only do we need to guard against making assumptions about God’s abundance, we also need to remember that the same person who wrote these words in Ephesians also wrote the following from Philippians:
“I know what it is to have little, and I know what it is to have plenty. In any and all circumstances I have learned the secret of being well-fed and of going hungry, of having plenty and of being in need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me.” (Philippians 4:12-13, NRSV)
We praise God for his abundant gifts to us, but sometimes the greatest gift he provides is the strength to persevere when the earthly gifts we desire are not quick to come. Even then, as our song declares, we find all we need in his presence. That is a gift beyond compare.
I find all I need here in Your presence, Lord
I open up my soul and You fill me up with
All I need here in Your presence‚ Lord
Where blessings overflow
There's always abundantly more
Reading Four: John 6:1-21 (NRSV)
Song: Remembrance (Communion Song) (lyrics here)
Reflection
And finally we come to the story that “bookends” our lectionary texts, as Jesus himself provides a miraculous meal for thousands of people who have gathered to hear him teach and seek his healing power. Like with Elisha, a seemingly meager gift is presented, one that could not possibly feed the crowd at hand. And like Elisha, we see that God is not limited by such earthly measurements.
Just as Elisha’s story foreshadowed the miracles of Jesus, there is foreshadowing in our passage from John as well. Now it is a foreshadowing of another meal over which Jesus will preside, where he will once again give thanks and bless what is handed out to his followers. Only this will be a much smaller crowd, gathered in an upper room on the night that Jesus is betrayed.
How wonderful, though, that even then, God was providing exceedingly, abundantly beyond what any human could have imagined. He is providing for our very salvation. On the surface, the gifts of body and blood may seem meager. After all, people were crucified all the time by the Roman Empire. But this is no ordinary human. This is the very Son of God, whose coming as one of us was already an abundant and unexpected gift. And now God takes the gift of Christ’s willing sacrifice and blesses it, and provides the meal that our souls need most of all. And that is abundance in its most powerful form.
As we conclude this week’s reflections, spend some time with the lyrics of Matt Redman’s “Communion Song.” Read them slowly and prayerfully. What words or phrases speak most to you? Why? Spend some time in prayer and worship expressing your gratitude to God for his abundant grace and mercy shown in Jesus Christ.
Oh, how could it be
That my God would welcome me
Into this mystery?
Say, "take this bread, take this wine"
Now the simple made divine
For any to receive
By Your mercy we come to Your table
By Your grace You are making us faithful
Lord, we remember You
And remembrance leads us to worship
And as we worship You
Our worship leads to communion
We respond to Your invitation
We remember You
See His body, His blood
Know that He has overcome
Every trial that we face
None too lost to be saved
None to broken or ashamed
All are welcome in this place
Dying, You destroyed our death
Rising, You restored our life
Lord Jesus, come in glory
Lord Jesus, come in glory