Excess, extravagance beyond ‘belief’ is the point of the feeding of so many thousands from so little. This event provides the ‘proof’ beyond argument or reason of God’s initiative to meet and exceed our deepest longings and passions. The first offering from God was “wisdom” in all her beguiling and gracious “hospitality;” the second is the Christ, God in the “flesh” that feeds and nurtures, satisfying our basic needs so completely we can “taste” it.
(Resources listed here reference more than one reading and are normally shorter than the resources listed under the individual texts above. If you are looking to link the readings, check these resources.)
(Resources listed here reference more than one reading and are normally shorter than the resources listed under the individual texts above. If you are looking to link the readings, check these resources.)
(Resources listed here reference more than one reading and are normally shorter than the resources listed under the individual texts above. If you are looking to link the readings, check these resources.)
(Resources listed here reference more than one reading and are normally shorter than the resources listed under the individual texts above. If you are looking to link the readings, check these resources.)
(Resources listed here reference more than one reading and are normally shorter than the resources listed under the individual texts above. If you are looking to link the readings, check these resources.)
There is lots of bread in scripture, and in John 6:51-58 a connecting line is drawn between bread and manna: This is the bread that came down from heaven, not like that which your ancestors ate...The picture above is exactly what it describes (and the designation/naming of the artist is drawn from this work). What is interesting, I think, is the manner in which people are gathering the manna. Some are picking up the wafer-shaped manna from the ground. Men, women, and children are all engaged in the task. Babies are held in their mother's arms, and people embrace as the miracle occurs. This is clearly a celebration. As it should be. For the coming decades the people will be fed daily with manna and quail...