Tiberias – The Peanut Gallery

Morning Prayer

+ In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen

Opening sentences – Caedmon of Whitby (?-680)

I cannot speak, unless You loose my tongue; I only stammer, and I speak uncertainly; but if You touch my mouth, my Lord, then I will sing the story of Your wonders!

Hear am I, my Jesus: teach me.

Morning readings

John 6:22-24 ESV:

When they found him on the other side of the sea, they said to him, “Rabbi, when did you come here?”

Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you are seeking me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves. Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you. For on him God the Father has set his seal.”

Then they said to him, “What must we do, to be doing the works of God?”

Jesus answered them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.”

Reflections / Prayer:

Motivation

That the crowd is seeking Jesus is good, but Jesus says there is something wrong with their motivation. They had seen a miracle, but it did not focus their attention on Jesus. Rather, he was seen as a means to the filling of their stomachs. They can’t get beyond the natural realm to recognise the spiritual significance of the miraculous signs Jesus has performed – signs revealing Jesus’ identity and God’s saving activity in his ministry.

Work

The folks in the crowd had to work for a living, but this life is transitory – temporal, brief, fading. Jesus tries to redirect their attention to think about their spiritual lives – real, enduring, continuing forever. The food that Jesus offers is both gift and work – imparting eternal life.

+ The Son of Man will give this food that endures to eternal life by giving his own life and also by providing a means by which we may share in that life.

+ The means is the work that God gives – believing in Jesus – being receptive to God… being dependent on God… being in union with God in Christ by the Spirit. Ultimately it is not a matter of our working for God, but a matter of God’s living his life and doing his work through us as we trust him and align ourselves with him by his grace.

(The IVP New Testament Commentary Series)

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Prayer

Heavenly Father – Give me eyes to see and ears to hear the movement of Your Spirit in my life… in the glorious and in the mundane. In my desire to please You may I not lose sight of, and lose trust in, Your sovereign graciousness.

Lord Jesus – My trust is in You – the one sent from God… offering grace and revealing the heart of the Father. By the power of Your Spirit, help me to align my life with Your gracious purpose and will.

Holy Spirit – Thank You for Your patience and persistence as You work in all human hearts. Break through in me… and use me to bring the good news of Your saving grace in Jesus Christ… both now and forever. Amen.
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Canticle:

Christ, as a light… illumine and guide me. Christ, as a shield… overshadow me. Christ under me; Christ over me; Christ beside me on my left and my right.

This day be within and without me, lowly and meek, yet all-powerful. Be in the heart of each to whom I speak; in the mouth of each who speaks unto me. This day be within and without me, lowly and meek, yet all-powerful.

Christ as a light; Christ as a shield; Christ beside me on my left and my right.

Blessing

May the peace of the Lord Christ go with you, wherever He may send you. May He guide you through the wilderness, protect you through the storm. May He bring you home rejoicing at the wonders He has shown you. May He bring you home rejoicing once again into our doors.

+ In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen

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Peanut Gallery: A brief word of explanation – the general format for Morning Prayer is adapted from the Northumbrian Community‘s Daily Office, as found in Celtic Daily Prayer (see online resources here.) The Scripture readings are primarily from the Gospel of John, with the intent to complete the reading by Easter. Other Scriptures which illuminate the Gospel of John will be included along the way.

Reflections from various saints will be included as their memorial days occur during the calendar year.

On Sundays, I’ll return to the USCCB readings (see online resources here) and various liturgical resources in order to reflect the Church’s worship and concerns throughout the world.

Photo illustrations and music videos, available online, are included as they illustrate or illuminate the readings. I will try to give credit and link to sources as best I can.

Morning Prayer

+ In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen

Opening sentences – St Brigid of Kildare, c. 450–523

May God our Father, our strength and light, bless you with what you most need, beyond even all you would ask. For the weather is always right for the sowing of good seed.

Morning readings

Jesus Christ Hagia Sophia, Istanbul — Jesus Christ
Hagia Sophia, Istanbul

John 6:22-24 ESV:

On the next day the crowd that remained on the other side of the sea saw that there had been only one boat there, and that Jesus had not entered the boat with his disciples, but that his disciples had gone away alone. Other boats from Tiberias came near the place where they had eaten the bread after the Lord had given thanks. So when the crowd saw that Jesus was not there, nor his disciples, they themselves got into the boats and went to Capernaum, seeking Jesus.

Reflections / Prayer:

The crowd following Jesus is well aware that something very strange has happened. They realize that Jesus is no longer present at the scene of the feeding but also that he did not leave in the one boat that had been present. Thus, while the crowd did not witness Jesus walking on the water, they come to realize that the feeding miracle was not the only unusual event that had taken place… and they set out for Capernaum in search of Jesus.
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Behind all blessings and all sorrows, the Son of God is present and interceding for us with the Father. In all circumstances God the Spirit is present with us.

(The IVP New Testament Commentary Series)

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Everpresent God – In all the melodrama of life – whether pleasant and exciting or painful and confusing… in both the spectacular and the mundane – give me eyes to see Your gracious activity taking place all around me. Amen.
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Canticle:

Christ, as a light… illumine and guide me. Christ, as a shield… overshadow me. Christ under me; Christ over me; Christ beside me on my left and my right.

Christ as a light; Christ as a shield; Christ beside me on my left and my right.

Blessing

+ In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen

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Reflections from various saints will be included as their memorial days occur during the calendar year.

On Sundays, I’ll return to the USCCB readings (see online resources here) and various liturgical resources in order to reflect the Church’s worship and concerns throughout the world.

Photo illustrations and music videos, available online, are included as they illustrate or illuminate the readings. I will try to give credit and link to sources as best I can.