Music Info
Bless the Lord, O my soul
By Tenebrae, Nigel Short
Rachmaninoff Vespers | © Signum Records
Closer
By Simon Wester
Closer | Simon Wester
Script
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Today is Monday the 27 April, the feast of St Peter Canisius SJ, in the Season of Easter.
Tenebrae, directed by Nigel Short, sing “Bless the Lord My Soul” from Rachmaninoff’s Vespers. “Bless the Lord, my soul. Lord God, how great you are!” As I begin to pray today, I acknowledge the greatness of God, who created me and all of creation…the earth the moon and the stars, who makes springs gush forth in the valleys and grass grow for the cattle. And I place myself in the hands of that great and wonderful God.
Today’s reading is from the Gospel of John.
John 6:22-29
The next day the crowd that had stayed on the other side of the lake saw that there had been only one boat there. They also saw that Jesus had not got into the boat with his disciples, but that his disciples had gone away alone. Then some boats from Tiberias came near the place where they had eaten the bread after the Lord had given thanks. So when the crowd saw that neither Jesus nor his disciples were there, they themselves got into the boats and went to Capernaum looking for Jesus. When they found him on the other side of the lake, they said to him, ‘Rabbi, when did you come here?’ Jesus answered them, ‘Very truly, I tell you, you are looking for me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves. Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures for eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For it is on him that God the Father has set his seal.’ Then they said to him, ‘What must we do to perform the works of God?’ Jesus answered them, ‘This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.’
People are looking for Jesus the miracle worker. Maybe he will perform another miracle right now and provide them all with more food. They cannot see that something more is on offer. What must it be like for Jesus to be so often misunderstood?
Jesus wants them to believe in him. He wants them to trust that he has been sent by God. If they did believe he was sent by God, what might they be saying to Jesus?
For you now, in these challenging times, what kind of food is Jesus wanting to give you?
As you listen again, consider what Jesus wants for the crowds of people who are drawn to him.
Ask Jesus for the ‘food’ you need in these times. What do you need to sustain you? Ask him to give you this.