The reading for Trinity 8 in this Year B in the lectionary is rather odd—a selection of verses sliced out of Mark’s narrative, Mark 6.30-34, 53-56. It separates the ‘bread’, the description of Jesus’ ministry, from the jam or the meat of the sandwich, the feeding of the 5,000, which we consider next week from John 6.
Despite this looking like crumbs from the table of the narrative, there is in fact some serious food to chew on in relation to Jesus’ ministry—what it is like, who it attracts, and how the apostles, both here and in Acts, continue this ministry.
Come and join Ian and James as they explore the text and the issues it raises.
Full written commentary behind the discussion can be found in the next article.
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Personally, I found the Bishop of Bath and Well’s comment on the lady who informed him that 40% of people in a crowd were interested in making an enquiry or asking a question about Christianity incredibly helpful – thankyou, as it encourages us all to engage with others about Jesus’ love for them!
Yes–wasn’t it!
Indeed, James and Ian; The Lexionary seems in urgent need of a Reformation
Quite a project for a couple of aspiring theologians to undertake don’t you think.
Thank you for your thoughts on this excerpt, plenty of good bread here!
On the un-named Feast
Meyer’s commentary suggests that the un-named feast was that of Purim
PURIM
The jolly Jewish holiday of Purim is celebrated every year on the 14th of the Hebrew month of Adar (late winter/early spring). Purim 2024 begins on Saturday night, March 23 and continues through Sunday, March 24 (extending through Monday in Jerusalem). It commemorates the (Divinely orchestrated) salvation of the Jewish people in the ancient Persian empire from Haman’s plot “to destroy, kill and annihilate all the Jews, young and old, infants and women, in a single day.” Literally “lots” in ancient Persian, Purim was thus named since Haman had thrown lots to determine when he would carry out his diabolical scheme, as recorded in the Megillah (book of Esther).
The feast of Purim, which was not a temple feast, required no journey to Jerusalem (see especially Hengstenberg, Christol. III. p. 187 f., Lücke, de Wette, Brückner);. But might not Jesus, even without any legal obligation, have availed Himself of this feast as an occasion for His further labours And are we to suppose that the character of the feast— is a feast for eating and drinking
On the “Sheep without a Shepherd”
Moses just before his final departure prayed
Num.27:15 And Moses spake unto the LORD, saying,
27:16 Let the LORD, the God of the spirits of all flesh, set a man over the congregation,
27:17 Which may go out before them, and which may go in before them, and which may lead them out, and which may bring them in; that the congregation of the LORD be not as sheep which have no shepherd.
27:18 And the LORD said unto Moses, Take thee Joshua the son of Nun, a man in whom is the spirit, and lay thine hand upon him;
27:19 And set him before Eleazar the priest, and before all the congregation; and give him a charge in their sight.
27:20 And thou shalt put some of thine honour upon him, that all the congregation of the children of Israel may be obedient.
27:21 And he shall stand before Eleazar the priest, who shall ask counsel for him after the judgment of Urim before the LORD: at his word shall they go out, and at his word they shall come in, both he, and all the children of Israel with him, even all the congregation.
109 is the 29th prime number and a twin prime of 107.
Viewers/reders may be interested in the appointments to Alternative Spiritual Oversight, which took place in All Souls, London, last week. The number includes some retired bishops.
https:/ /anglican.ink/2024/07/12/ceec-overseers-commissioned-in-london-for-the-church-of-england/
I simply added up 1+9=10
A full power & strength number.
10 sayings of God to bring creation to completion, 10 generations from Adam to Noah, 10 camels from Abraham to Rebecca, 10 commandments, best theological bloggers, etc
I knew that 109 would prove to be significant!