Knitting it together

Greetings on this the Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Readings: 2 Kgs 4:42-44; PS 145:10-11, 15-16, 17-18; Eph 4:1-6; Jn 6:1-15
Notes: It’s summertime!! So I get to be a little creative. In today’s homily I am using props. I have a ball of yard and two knitting needles. After a quick lesson or two on how to knit, I am going to play-act knitting as I preach. Hidden in my knitting bag is a embroidered image of Jesus. I will show them the ‘completed’ image after I complete the knitting together. Get it?

You see we can knit together our understanding of Jesus from the ones who came before him and the story of him and our getting to know him.

Our gospel portion for the next FOUR of FIVE weeks (Assumption of the Blessed Mother takes priority over #4 otherwise five weeks) is about a SINGLE chapter of one Gospel. Chapter six of the Gospel of John is so important, we dedicate five weeks to it. It’s a short chapter with universal importance:

The Bread of Life Discourse.

The FIVE WEEK series of notes are here: Five Week Grid of Notes.

First reading
Elisha: Elisha who succeeded and exceeded Elijah.
Miracles evidenced through him include:

• Poisoned Well cured with salt.
• Drought water when no water can be found.
• Widow’s Oil enough enough to pay off debt to save children from slavery.
• Shunammite’s Son revived.
• Poisioned Stew cured.
• Barley Loaves 20 loaves 100 men.
• Naaman Leprosy.
• The Lost Ax retrieved. Matt 17:27 The two coins for the temple tax.
• Invisible Army seen. Transfiguration.
• Cured even after his death. US!!!!
• and more!

John the Baptist is Elijah: Matthew 11:14 [Jesus said] And if you are willing to accept it, John himself is Elijah who was to come.

Elisha exceed Elijah with a double portion.

Jesus is more than but succeeds Elijah, not two fold but infinite fold.

• 20 Loaves/100 Men.
• 5 loaves/5,000 Men.

You do the math 🙂 John is to Elijah as Jesus is to Elisha.

Responsorial Psalm
The hand of the Lord feeds us; he answers all our needs.

Second reading
One Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all.

Alleluia Verse
A great prophet has risen in our midst.
God has visited his people.

Gospel Portion
I have a knitting project that I really need to finish so fi you don’t mind I am going to knit while I preach. OK?

You see we are always knitting together our understanding of Jesus. We learn of his life, his relationship to the Father and his commitment to us. We listen to him and follow him.

But not perfectly.
But not all.

Let’s start with week five: the ending of the series.

Jesus having completed the Bread of Life discourse has one last challenge.

John 6.

Many of Jesus’ disciples who were listening said,
“This saying is hard; who can accept it?”

As a result of this, many of his disciples returned to their former way of life and no longer accompanied him. Jesus then said to the Twelve, “Do you also want to leave?” Simon Peter answered him, “Master, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.

We have come to believe and are convinced that you are the Holy One of God.”

We have the same challenge:

• Do we believe Jesus in his discourse of the Bread of Life or not.
• And even if we struggle, do we walk away?

OR do we profess like Peter, even if we still have questions…We have come to believe and are convinced that you are the Holy One of God.”

That’s our journey.

• Exceeding Elijah:
• 5 Barley Loaves/2 Fish
• 5,000 men/Women and children
• Gather fragments/12 wicker baskets
• Prophet/King

Exceeding Moses:

• Bread and Quail by Moses request.
• The Lord has given you bread to eat.
• All the gifts: ten commandments, water from rock, serpent on pole, etc.

• Exceeding Elijah:
• Elijah flight from Horeb, given food and water to eat from an Angel. (Also given food from Ravens earlier). Get up and eat for the journey will be too much for you.
• Elijah sees the Lord (from the cave).
• Called down fire from heaven.

• Exceeding Joshua:
• Having completed the subduing of the promised land.
• Joshua gives the witness. It is the LORD who freed you from slavery in the land of Egypt. It is the LORD who performed great signs and protected you. It is the LORD who we should worship.
• As for me and my house, we shall serve the Lord.

so that… we believe in One Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all.

Our deepest desire to be one with Jesus.

Peace be with you,
Deacon Gerry