A hillside Passover

After John 6:1-21 

We are on the hillside

by the Galilean sea,

a respite from the work,

a time to listen and to be.

 

As was always happening,

people come to seek 

healing, teaching, feeding

for the desperate, sick, and weak.

 

We all see them coming,

at the hour it’s time to eat; 

perplexed at what to feed them,

dismayed by such a feat.

 

A boy arrives with food,

five loaves and two fish,

to feed so many with such a meal

is someone’s ridiculous wish.

 

Have them sit, the teacher says,

as we stare at him in shock;

anyone else but him and

we’d be prone to mock.

 

Five thousand sit upon the hill,

waiting to be fed;

he tells us to serve the food

two fish, five loaves of bread.

 

The crowd is fed, and fed so well,

that everyone is sated;

we see our future tied to him,

our life and death are fated.

 

Photograph: Sea of Galilee by Yoav Aziz via Unsplash. Used with permission.

Some Sunday Readings

 

The Idol of Popularity – Tim Challies.

 

“The Flower,” poem by George Herbert – Anthony Esolen at Word & Song.

 

Is Seminary Worth the Cost? – Guy Richard at Ligonier.