Show Notes
Preacher: The Rev. Aaron E. Yaeger
Exodus 16:2–21 / Psalm 132:8–18 / Galatians 4:22—5:1a* / John 6:1–15
The Lord Feeds His People
The Lord provided bread from heaven for His people in the wilderness (Ex. 16:2–21). Now He who is Himself the living bread from heaven miraculously provides bread for the five thousand (John 6:1–15). This takes place near the time of the Passover, after a great multitude had followed Jesus across the sea, and when He went up on a mountain. Seen in this way, Jesus is our new and greater Moses, who releases us from the bondage of Mount Sinai and makes us free children of the promise (Gal. 4:21–5:1a). Five loaves become twelve baskets—that is, the five books of Moses find their goal and fulfillment in Christ. For He abundantly provides for us in both body and soul.
This Sunday takes its name from the first word of the Introit in Latin, Laetare, which means "rejoice." Today is one of the most joyful and festive Sundays of the year. Today the Church briefly interrupts her Lenten mournfulness in order to gather her strength for Holy Week for She would not want to faint along the way. She is strengthened always by the Body and Blood of Jesus, but today She issues a special call to joy and remembrance that the sorrows and death of Jesus Christ are taken up willfully, and in perfect love, in order to redeem humanity and provide bread for their bodies and souls. To that end, today's readings emphasize joy and consolation. What is most striking, of course, is that the paraments and vestments are rose and not violet. The deacon resumes his dalmatic. The subdeacon again wears his tunicle. The barrenness of Lent is momentarily set aside in anticipation of Easter. Nonetheless, it is Lent, even Passiontide. The Hallelujahs and Gloria in Excelsis are still withheld. Rose is not only a color of joy meant to call to mind the springing of flowers from the earth and buds upon the trees, but it is also a lighter shade of violet. Violet is the color of royal mourning, a mix of purple and black. Rose is violet with the shades of black and blue withdrawn. But it is not yet the full white and gold of Easter or Christmas. The joy of Laetare is anticipatory, celebrated in the midst of sadness, even as we celebrate and anticipate the resurrection to come in the midst of this living death we call "life."
