The 8th Sunday after Trinity

Matthew 14:13-21
14:13 Now when Jesus heard this, he withdrew from there in a boat to a deserted place by himself. But when the crowds heard it, they followed him on foot from the towns.
When he went ashore, he saw a great crowd; and he had compassion for them and cured their sick.
When it was evening, the disciples came to him and said, “This is a deserted place, and the hour is now late; send the crowds away so that they may go into the villages and buy food for themselves.”
Jesus said to them, “They need not go away; you give them something to eat.”
They replied, “We have nothing here but five loaves and two fish.”
And he said, “Bring them here to me.”
Then he ordered the crowds to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven, and blessed and broke the loaves, and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds.
And all ate and were filled; and they took up what was left over of the broken pieces, twelve baskets full.
And those who ate were about five thousand men, besides women and children.

A prayer

Lord God,

your Son left the riches of heaven

and became poor for our sake:

when we prosper save us from pride,

when we are needy save us from despair,

that we may trust in you alone;

through Jesus Christ our Lord.   Amen

Some thoughts

Jesus went to a quiet place, perhaps to think and to pray. It is important to take these times of quiet, times of recreation (re-creation). Every one of us needs this.

However, the crowds find him and turn up. He responds to their needs with teaching and healing. 

When he finds that they are hungry, he responds to their need again with food. 

What Jesus shows us is a God who is compassionate and responsive. A God who cares about our needs and who wants the best for us. 

We all know that we and the whole world have been going through difficult times this year. God does not forget us; he is still the loving caring God who wants the best for us. Perhaps it is hard for us to understand, hard for us to see the way ahead. 

But I wish to affirm – God loves us. 

God loves you and me and everyone in the world.

On the 16th of August we are hoping to open the churches again.

9.30 at Houghton Conquest.

11.00 at Wilstead

Please bring a mask

Remember to keep social distance

Without hymns, the services will necessarily be different