The Feeding of the 5000

In the Gospel for Lent IV, things are not as they appear. No one could see the miracle, but clearly a miracle had occurred. For where did enough come from? This is Jesus' way: things are not as they appear. Neither in the way he often did miracles, or in the events that occurred in  the Scriptures (always meant to provide us with a deeper meaning, as St. Paul shows in Galatians 4), or at the cross. There, Jesus is dying, and the appearance is dreadful; but there, he is in fact redeeming the world by his blood. There, he is defeating the devil. And so it is in the Supper: it appears as ordinary bread, but it is in fact the Bread of Life, Christ Jesus himslf.  And so it is in life: what may appear hopeless for God's people is never so, for, as it is written, The Lord is my Shepherd; I shall not want. Sermon for Laetare Sunday.