Week 19 - Food for Life: Jesus gives Life!
Theme:
The search for the right way to take in life can make us hungry and tired.
Jesus provides us with food for the journey, food for life.
What I may desire:
That I get to know Jesus as someone who can satisfy my hunger.
That I can learn to receive sustenance from Jesus.
Together with many people I am journeying on the way in order to follow Jesus. My body and soul are hungry for His sustenance. But I have faith in Jesus. Even in that most lonely place in my life.
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Music: Bless the Lord, my soul. Taizé
Bless the Lord, my soul and bless God’s holy name
Bless the Lord, my soul, who leads me into life.
Mark 6, 30-44
30 The apostles returned to Jesus, and told him all that they had done and taught. 31 And he said to them, “Come away by yourselves to a lonely place, and rest a while.” For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat. 32 And they went away in the boat to a lonely place by themselves. 33 Now many saw them going, and knew them, and they ran there on foot from all the towns, and got there ahead of them. 34 As he landed he saw a great throng, and he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd; and he began to teach them many things.
I imagine the scene ….. five thousand people who are all running to be with Jesus. Hopeful, full of expectations regarding what He can offer them. The day disappears while listening intently to Jesus …. Do I come close and listen too?
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35 And when it grew late, his disciples came to him and said, “This is a lonely place, and the hour is now late; 36 send them away, to go into the country and villages round about and buy themselves something to eat.”
To send people away: telling them to sort things out for themselves. Has my trust ever been betrayed?
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37 But he answered them, “You give them something to eat.” And they said to him, “Shall we go and buy two hundred denarii[d] worth of bread, and give it to them to eat?” 38 And he said to them, “How many loaves have you? Go and see.” And when they had found out, they said, “Five, and two fish.”
Setbacks, sorrow, unfulfilled expectations. There are so many moments when life can be hard. Sometimes for a long period of time. Is it then possible for me to keep hold of my faith that one day all will be well? In whom, or what, do I place my faith and trust?
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39 Then he commanded them all to sit down by companies upon the green grass. 40 So they sat down in groups, by hundreds and by fifties. 41 And taking the five loaves and the two fish he looked up to heaven, and blessed, and broke the loaves, and gave them to the disciples to set before the people; and he divided the two fish among them all. 42 And they all ate and were satisfied. 43 And they took up twelve baskets full of broken pieces and of the fish. 44 And those who ate the loaves were five thousand men.
All of these people stay. They have faith in Jesus. He will give them food for their lives: food for on the way.
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Sometimes life takes a miraculous turn for the better. Just like that: it seems completely unexpected. Can I also trust that all will be well, or will continue to be well, on my way through life?