the church of the
ascension
in the city of
new york
Friday, March 27, 2009
Friday, March 27
Psalm 107:1-32 / Jeremiah 23:1-8 / John 6:52-59
All three readings set for this day center on giving thanks to God.
Only the first reading from the Psalms does this in an obvious way, cataloging a veritable litany of demonstrations of God's power and love for us. "So they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and he rescued them from their distress" (REB) is repeated twice after its initial statement. Whether they are imprisoned for their personal misdoings, storm-tossed at sea, caught up in the national tragedy of Diaspora, or lost, hungry and thirsty in the desert wastes, the Lord sets them free, calms the storms, brings the exiles home and satisfies both hunger and thirst. The result is the injunction to all to "give thanks to the Lord for his enduring love and for the marvelous things he has done for mankind."
Jeremiah begins with the denunciation of those leaders who have brought calamity upon the nation by neglecting their duties as shepherds of the people. Yet even the denouncing prophet follows up with the declaration that the wondrous deeds of the Lord of the return from Egypt will be so exceeded by His hand's bringing the exiles to live on their own soil again. The thanks of the people will be so great that they will swear by the Lord who brought them home again, superseding swearing by the Lord who brought them out of Egypt. The Lord will appoint new shepherds, who will abolish fear, dismay and punishment.
John gives us a statement of Jesus proclaiming the Eucharistic feast as God's great gift, real manna from heaven, giving eternal life, not merely temporary sustenance. It is this Thanksgiving to the Father, the meaning of the word "Eucharist," that completes the daily readings. Enduring love, return from exile, dwelling in Christ and the Father, all this should certainly evoke in us the praise of God with thanksgiving for his love that endures forever.
— Dennis Weiscopf
All three readings set for this day center on giving thanks to God.
Only the first reading from the Psalms does this in an obvious way, cataloging a veritable litany of demonstrations of God's power and love for us. "So they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and he rescued them from their distress" (REB) is repeated twice after its initial statement. Whether they are imprisoned for their personal misdoings, storm-tossed at sea, caught up in the national tragedy of Diaspora, or lost, hungry and thirsty in the desert wastes, the Lord sets them free, calms the storms, brings the exiles home and satisfies both hunger and thirst. The result is the injunction to all to "give thanks to the Lord for his enduring love and for the marvelous things he has done for mankind."
Jeremiah begins with the denunciation of those leaders who have brought calamity upon the nation by neglecting their duties as shepherds of the people. Yet even the denouncing prophet follows up with the declaration that the wondrous deeds of the Lord of the return from Egypt will be so exceeded by His hand's bringing the exiles to live on their own soil again. The thanks of the people will be so great that they will swear by the Lord who brought them home again, superseding swearing by the Lord who brought them out of Egypt. The Lord will appoint new shepherds, who will abolish fear, dismay and punishment.
John gives us a statement of Jesus proclaiming the Eucharistic feast as God's great gift, real manna from heaven, giving eternal life, not merely temporary sustenance. It is this Thanksgiving to the Father, the meaning of the word "Eucharist," that completes the daily readings. Enduring love, return from exile, dwelling in Christ and the Father, all this should certainly evoke in us the praise of God with thanksgiving for his love that endures forever.
— Dennis Weiscopf
