The 11th Sunday After Pentecost (Proper 13A), July 31, 2005

BCP: Neh. 9:16-20; Psalm 78:1-29 or 78:14-20, 23-25; Rom. 8:35-39; Matt. 14:13-21

RCL: Gen. 32:22-31 or Isaiah 55:1-5; Psalm 17:1-7, 16 or 145:8-9, 15-22; Rom. 9:1-5; Matt. 14:13-21

The lesson from Nehemiah teaches that God, described as gracious and compassionate, provides for the basic needs of a people who are nevertheless arrogant, obstinate, and who commit “monstrous impieties” (Nehemiah 9:18). Nehemiah writes that God “did not abandon them in the desert” (9:19). Though this is certainly a true statement, God also undeniably punished the rebellious generation. Ultimately, however, later generations — for example, the one in which Nehemiah lived — saw God’s action as merciful and providential.

The psalm for today is about the same event — God providing for the needs of the people of God in the desert in the time of Moses. He guides them by day and by night, brings water from the rock in the time of thirst, and rains down the bread of heaven in the time of hunger. Yet, all the while, the people tested God and demanded food for their craving (Psalm 78:18); they went on “sinning” and “rebelling” (78:17). The psalm, as on most Sundays, is appointed in both a long and a short version. Customarily the long version is used when the Sunday service is Morning Prayer, and in the Eucharist the short version is used after the Old Testament lesson. Regrettably, in the short version, verses 21-22 are left out. These verses reveal that God was “full of wrath” and his anger “mounted against Israel” (78:21). Though he provided for them, the people still came under judgment.

The account of the miraculous feeding of the 5,000 shows Jesus meeting the needs of the people who had pursued him into the wilderness. When he sees them he takes pity on them and heals their sick. He feeds the people with miraculously multiplied loaves and fish. Rarely pointed out in commentaries on this event is that Jesus was in the wilderness in the first place because he desired to be alone with his disciples — that is, he didn’t want to be with a crowd. He had just received word that John the Baptist, his kinsman and forerunner, had been put to death. Jesus wanted to remove himself from the demands of the crowds, presumably in order to mourn with his disciples. As in the other lessons, the people’s desires took little or no account of anything beyond what they themselves wanted.

Nevertheless, this lesson stands out from the others appointed for today. The crowd of thousands is neither rebellious nor obstinate. Though their needs are just as basic and central, they are humble and worthy of the pity Jesus feels for them.

Look It Up

How does the epistle for today match the other lessons? Though it is triumphant and exultant, it does share some elements with its companion readings.

Think About It

What are the differences between needing and wanting, begging and demanding? With what attitude are we to ask God for something?

Next Sunday

The 12th Sunday After Pentecost (Proper 14A), Aug. 7, 2005

BCP: Jonah 2:1-9; Psalm 29; Rom. 9:1-5; Matt. 14:22-33

RCL: Gen. 37:1-4, 12-28 or 1 Kings 19:9-18; Psalm 105:1-6, 16-22, 45b or Psalm 85:8-13; Rom. 10:5-15; Matt. 14:22-33