Show Notes
Preacher: The Rev. Aaron E. Yaeger
Exodus 16:2–21 / 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.
Laetare, the first word of the Introit in Latin, means "rejoice." Today is a most joyful and festive Sunday, for the Church briefly interrupts her Lenten mournfulness to gather her strength for Holy Week; 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. She calls you to remember that Jesus Christ takes up His sorrows and death willfully, in perfect love, and to redeem humanity, thereby providing bread for both body and soul. 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. Violet is the color of royal mourning, a mix of purple and black. Rose is violet with the shades of black and blue withdrawn, mixed, as it were, with the color of Easter, white or gold. The barrenness of Lent is momentarily set aside in anticipation of Easter. Still, it remains Lent. Our Alleluias and the Gloria in Excelsis are still withheld. Our Fasting-Time continues. 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."
Sermon text: https://oursaviorlynchburg.notion.site/32475af8d8cd803eb9f7fd4303ba2bcc
