by the Rev. Craig Lemming
In those days there was again a great crowd of women, children, and men and they did not have anything to eat; Jesus called his disciples and said to them, “I have compassion for the women, children and men, because they have remained with me for three days already and do not have anything to eat. And if I send them on their way hungry to their homes, they will faint on the way, and some of them have come from far away.”
His disciples replied, “From where can anyone get loaves to feed these people here in the desert?”
Jesus asked them, “How many loaves do you all have?”
They said, “Seven.”
Then he ordered the women, children, and men of the crowd to sit down on the ground and he took the seven loaves, and after giving thanks, he broke and gave them to his disciples in order that they might distribute them, and they distributed them to the women, children, and men. They had also a few little fish and after blessing them, he ordered that these be distributed as well. They ate and were filled; and they took up the broken pieces left over, seven baskets full. Now there were about four thousand women, children, and men. And he sent them on their way. And immediately he got into the boat with his disciples and went to the district of Dalmanutha.
And the Pharisees came and began to debate with Jesus, asking him for a sign from heaven, to test him. And he sighed deeply in his spirit and said, “Why does this generation seek a sign? Truly I tell you all, no sign will be given to this generation.” And he left them again getting into the boat, he went across to the other side.
Now they had forgotten to bring loaves of bread and except for one loaf they did not have any with them in the boat. And Jesus instructed them, saying, “Look here! Beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and the yeast of Herod.” And they discussed among themselves that because of the lack of loaves he said it. And becoming aware of it, Jesus said to them, “Why are you all discussing having no loaves? Do you still not perceive or understand? Are your hearts hardened? Do you have eyes and fail to see? Do you have ears and fail to hear? And do you not remember? When I broke the five loaves for the five thousand men, how many baskets full of broken pieces did you collect?”
They said to him, “Twelve.”
“And the seven for the four thousand women, children, and men, how many baskets full of broken pieces did you collect?”
And they said to him, “Seven.”
Then he said to them, “Do you not yet understand?”
Mark 8:1
This fourth Sunday in Lent, Laetare Sunday, gets its name from the opening words of the Introit which invites those who delight in and who mourn for Mother Jerusalem to sing for joy as they are nourished, consoled, and satisfied by suckling at her breasts. This maternal imagery relates to this Sunday’s other name: “Mothering Sunday,” the day early Christians visited their mother churches where they received the sacrament of Holy Baptism. Dr. Wilda C. Gafney’s choice of Mark 8:1-21 in A Women’s Lectionary for the Whole Church revives the ancient tradition of hearing the Gospel account of Jesus multiplying loaves and fishes to feed the multitude – another maternal theme knit into this Sunday’s liturgy.
In her poem, Wellness Check, poet Andrea Gibson writes,
In any moment,
on any given day,
I can measure
my wellness
by this question:Is my attention on loving,
Or is my attention on
who isn’t loving me?
How are you nourishing those seeking a mothering church? How might you delight and rest in God’s motherly love? Spiritual wellness resides in the mutuality and reciprocity of both loving and being loved by God and neighbors. Is more of your attention on loving or on being loved today? Pray with me: You, O God, open your hand, and satisfy the desire of every living thing, through Christ Our Mother Hen. Amen.
Michigan Lily – Lilium michiganense
These photographs, shared each day during Lent, capture the beauty of plants native to the Upper Midwest. As we spend time in Lenten reflection, these images of new life can remind us daily of our calling to be caretakers of God’s Creation.
Photo by Jo Anna Hebberger
