Disciples, Apostles, and Saints!
Two weeks ago, the Olympics kicked off as they often do, with great theatrics, creativity, and people judging the creative decisions of others. I’ve grown weary of such judgment because I’m pretty sure I couldn’t pull off an opening ceremony myself. Maybe you can. If so, I bet they can use you in Los Angeles right about now!
This time we had a bit of performative misunderstanding when a representation of a bacchanalian feast meant to honor the Olympics’ Greek heritage was taken as a mockery of the Last Supper. Which, if we’re being honest couldn’t be mockery since the tea-totalers of the time thought Jesus was a drunkard. More likely, however, is that some people considered the potential presence of someone dressed in drag at the Lord’s Table is the true source of mockery. To make that that true requires a real jump in logic that most people I suspect would not grant.
The lectionary offered us a brilliant counterpoint (naturally) in both the Feeding of the Multitudes and in the performative misunderstanding of Jesus’s critics. But if I had preached that Sunday, I might have invited us to read from Mark’s version of the feeding story. That it was the disciples who found themselves fearful and missing the point. It says: “And they were utterly astounded, for they did not understand about the loaves, but their hearts were hardened.”
Even the most devoted to Jesus can misunderstand what it is we’re being fed by him: the Bread of Life. Which looks like hope, love, and joy. Judgment that doesn’t yield these three probably misunderstands about the loaves.
With love,
Drew