Lectionary 17 B

Pictures! Well, okay, two woodcuts, but that's still twice as many as usual. We start the long slog through John 6 this week, so go easy on the bread of life metaphor. Unless you want to challenge yourself to drawing it out over five weeks.

Semicontinuous First Reading - 2 Samuel 11:1-15

Image for the Sixth Commandment in The Small Catechism

The story of David and Bathsheba is the basis for the woodcut associated with the Sixth Commandment in The Small Catechism (SC 1.11, n. 39).

Psalm 145:10-18

The eyes of all look to you,
and you give them their food in due season.
You open your hand,
satisfying the desire of every living thing.
--Psalm 145:15-16

Verses 15-16 are quoted in The Small Catechism, Table Blessing with the citation happening in a footnote (SC 6.7, n. 107). What stands out here is the comment after the quote which unpacks the word "delight" as meaning "that all animals receive enough to eat to make them joyful and of good cheer, because worry and greed prevent such delight" (SC 6.8).

John 6:1-21

Image for the Fourth Petition in The Small Catechism

The story of the feeding of the five thousand as recorded in John is the basis for the woodcut associated with the Fourth Petition of the Lord's Prayer in The Small Catechism (SC 3.12, n. 67).

TheoThru

Worry keeps us from delighting in God's gifts. I know it's not quite the translation we use, but the idea could float you through the next weeks in John 6 and how the crowds react against Jesus as they get caught up in worry and greed.

If you want to have some fun with your liturgy, I have two different sections of liturgical replacement. The first one is a full eucharistic prayer with an invitation to communion. The second section provides more liturgical pieces (confession and forgiveness, offering prayer, communion invitation, and prayer after communion) and a less formal, more responsive eucharistic prayer.

Just remember to pace your self. Five weeks in john 6!