Above: The Feeding of the Multitude
Image in the Public Domain
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For the Fifth Sunday after the Epiphany, Year 2
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Lectionary from A Book of Worship for Free Churches (The General Council of the Congregational Christian Churches in the United States, 1948)
Collect from The Book of Worship (Evangelical and Reformed Church, 1947)
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O Lord, we beseech Thee to keep Thy Church and Household continually in Thy true religion;
that they who do lean only upon the hope of Thy heavenly grace
may evermore be defended by Thy mighty power
through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.
—The Book of Worship (1947), 132
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Job 38:22-41
Psalm 119:33-48
Romans 8:1-11
John 6:26-35
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More love to thee, O Christ,
More love to thee!
Hear thou the prayer I make
On bended knee;
This is my earnest plea:
More love, O Christ, to thee,
More love to thee,
More love to thee.
–Elizabeth Payson Prentiss (1818-1878), published in 1869
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The readings for this Sunday fit thematically with those for the previous post in this series. I could repeat myself excessively and justify that decision, therefore. However, I do choose not to do so. No, I opt to refer you, O reader, to that post and to focus on the Gospel lection in this post.
John 6:26-35 has much in common with Luke 14:25-35. Both teach us to love Christ most of all. Luke 14:25-35 tells us to love Jesus more than ourselves, our friends, our relatives, and our possessions. John 6:26-35, set on the day following the Feeding of the Five Thousand, identifies Jesus as the Bread of Life. Yesterday’s bread ceases to satisfy after a little while; one becomes hungry again. Daily food is vital for one set of needs. Only Jesus can satisfy other, greater needs. We should love him more than mere food and drink.
One of the consistent themes in the New Testament is the precedence of Jesus. There is x, then there is Jesus. This theme recurs in the Gospels, the Pauline epistles, and the Letter to the Hebrews, for example. X may be good and necessary. It is less important than Jesus, though. He deserves more love than they do. So be it.
KENNETH RANDOLPH TAYLOR
DECEMBER 9, 2020 COMMON ERA
THE ELEVENTH DAY OF ADVENT
THE FEAST OF SAINT LIBORIUS WAGNER, GERMAN ROMAN CATHOLIC PRIEST AND MARTYR, 1631
THE FEAST OF GEORGE JOB ELVEY, ANGLICAN COMPOSER AND ORGANIST
THE FEAST OF JOHN HOWARD BERTRAM MASTERMAN, ANGLICAN SCHOLAR, HYMN WRITER, PRIEST, AND BISHOP OF PLYMOUTH
THE FEAST OF OLIVIER MESSIAEN, CLAIRE DELBOS, AND YVONNE LORIOD, FRENCH ROMAN CATHOLIC MUSICIANS AND COMPOSERS
THE FEAST OF SAINT PETER FOURIER, “THE GOOD PRIEST OF MATTAINCOURT;” AND ALIX LE CLERC, FOUNDRESS OF THE CONGREGATION OF NOTRE DAME OF CANONESSES REGULAR OF SAINT AUGUSTINE
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BLOGA THEOLOGICA 
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