10th Sunday after Pentecost 2024

Welcome to St. John the Divine Episcopal Church! On July 28, 2024, we will celebrate the 10th Sunday after Pentecost with a Rite 2 Mass. This service is a time for us to gather as a community, lift our voices in song, and reflect on the powerful messages of the scriptures.

Readings for the 10th Sunday after Pentecost 2024

Old Testament: 2 Kings 4:42-44

A man came from Baal-shalishah, bringing food from the first fruits to the man of God: twenty loaves of barley and fresh ears of grain in his sack. Elisha said, “Give it to the people and let them eat.” But his servant said, “How can I set this before a hundred people?” So he repeated, “Give it to the people and let them eat, for thus says the Lord, ‘They shall eat and have some left.'” He set it before them, they ate, and had some left, according to the word of the Lord.

Psalm 145:10-19

All your works praise you, O Lord, and your faithful servants bless you.
They make known the glory of your kingdom and speak of your power;
That the peoples may know of your power and the glorious splendor of your kingdom.
Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom; your dominion endures throughout all ages.
The Lord is faithful in all his words and merciful in all his deeds.
The Lord upholds all those who fall; he lifts up those who are bowed down.
The eyes of all wait upon you, O Lord, and you give them their food in due season.
You open wide your hand and satisfy the needs of every living creature.
The Lord is righteous in all his ways and loving in all his works.
The Lord is near to those who call upon him, to all who call upon him faithfully.
He fulfills the desire of those who fear him; he hears their cry and helps them.

Epistle: Ephesians 3:14-21

For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth takes its name. I pray that, according to the riches of his glory, he may grant that you may be strengthened in your inner being with power through his Spirit, and that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith, as you are being rooted and grounded in love. I pray that you may have the power to comprehend, with all the saints, what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. Now to him who by the power at work within us is able to accomplish abundantly far more than all we can ask or imagine, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

Gospel: John 6:1-21

After this Jesus went to the other side of the Sea of Galilee, also called the Sea of Tiberias. A large crowd kept following him, because they saw the signs that he was doing for the sick. Jesus went up the mountain and sat down there with his disciples. Now the Passover, the festival of the Jews, was near. When he looked up and saw a large crowd coming toward him, Jesus said to Philip, “Where are we to buy bread for these people to eat?” He said this to test him, for he himself knew what he was going to do. Philip answered him, “Six months’ wages would not buy enough bread for each of them to get a little.” One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, said to him, “There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish. But what are they among so many people?” Jesus said, “Make the people sit down.” Now there was a great deal of grass in the place; so they sat down, about five thousand in all. Then Jesus took the loaves, and when he had given thanks, he distributed them to those who were seated; so also the fish, as much as they wanted. When they were satisfied, he told his disciples, “Gather up the fragments left over, so that nothing may be lost.” So they gathered them up, and from the fragments of the five barley loaves, left by those who had eaten, they filled twelve baskets. When the people saw the sign that he had done, they began to say, “This is indeed the prophet who is to come into the world.”

When Jesus realized that they were about to come and take him by force to make him king, he withdrew again to the mountain by himself. When evening came, his disciples went down to the sea, got into a boat, and started across the sea to Capernaum. It was now dark, and Jesus had not yet come to them. The sea became rough because a strong wind was blowing. When they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus walking on the sea and coming near the boat, and they were terrified. But he said to them, “It is I; do not be afraid.” Then they wanted to take him into the boat, and immediately the boat reached the land toward which they were going.

Reflection on the Readings

This Sunday’s readings highlight themes of God’s provision, faith, and the boundless love of Christ. In 2 Kings, we witness a miraculous feeding that prefigures Jesus’ feeding of the five thousand in the Gospel of John. Both stories remind us of God’s abundant provision and care for His people.

Psalm 145 celebrates God’s faithfulness and generosity, acknowledging His righteousness and closeness to those who call upon Him. It encourages us to trust God’s loving nature and readiness to satisfy our needs.

In Ephesians, Paul prays for believers to be strengthened by the Spirit and to comprehend the vast dimensions of Christ’s love. This passage invites us to deepen our understanding of God’s love and to be filled with His fullness.

The Gospel reading from John presents two miraculous signs: the feeding of the five thousand and Jesus walking on water. These signs reveal Jesus’ divine authority and compassion for those in need. They call us to trust in His power and presence, even amid life’s challenges.

Hymns for the Service

The singing of the following hymns will enrich our worship:

• Hymn 304: I Come with Joy to Meet My Lord
• Hymn 693: Just as I Am
• Sequence Hymn: Surely the Presence of the Lord

These hymns reflect our gratitude for God’s grace and our commitment to come before Him with open hearts.

Join Us in Worship

We invite you to attend Rite 2 Mass at 9 a.m. in person at 116 E Chandler Blvd or through our live stream. Let us gather to worship, sing, and reflect on the profound messages of the scriptures. Whether a long-time member or a first-time visitor, you are welcome at St. John the Divine Episcopal Church.

Let us come together to celebrate God’s abundant love and provision. See you on Sunday!