Lectionary 17, Year B
Proper 12 The Sunday between July 24 and July 30 Revised Common Lectionary, Year B, the year of Mark Green
Next read on .
The Gospel: John 6:1–21
Jesus feeds about five thousand people with a boy’s five barley loaves and two fish, then comes to his disciples walking on the stormy sea.
What is going on
For five Sundays, the Gospel comes from John chapter 6. It begins with a huge crowd following Jesus up a hillside, and nothing to feed them.
A boy has five barley loaves and two fish. Jesus gives thanks, and the food is shared until about five thousand people have eaten, with twelve baskets left over.
That night the disciples are rowing across the sea against a strong wind. Jesus comes to them walking on the water and tells them not to be afraid.
John 6:1-21
Most churches stand for the Gospel, and sing or say a short response before and after it.
The passage
1 After these things, Jesus went away to the other side of the sea of Galilee, which is also called the Sea of Tiberias. 2 A great multitude followed him, because they saw his signs which he did on those who were sick. 3 Jesus went up into the mountain, and he sat there with his disciples. 4 Now the Passover, the feast of the Jews, was at hand. 5 Jesus therefore lifting up his eyes, and seeing that a great multitude was coming to him, said to Philip, “Where are we to buy bread, that these may eat?” 6 He said this to test him, for he himself knew what he would do. 7 Philip answered him, “Two hundred denarii worth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one of them may receive a little.” 8 One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, said to him, 9 “There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish, but what are these among so many?” 10 Jesus said, “Have the people sit down.” Now there was much grass in that place. So the men sat down, in number about five thousand. 11 Jesus took the loaves; and having given thanks, he distributed to the disciples, and the disciples to those who were sitting down; likewise also of the fish as much as they desired. 12 When they were filled, he said to his disciples, “Gather up the broken pieces which are left over, that nothing be lost.” 13 So they gathered them up, and filled twelve baskets with broken pieces from the five barley loaves, which were left over by those who had eaten. 14 When therefore the people saw the sign which Jesus did, they said, “This is truly the prophet who comes into the world.” 15 Jesus therefore, perceiving that they were about to come and take him by force to make him king, withdrew again to the mountain by himself. 16 When evening came, his disciples went down to the sea. 17 They entered into the boat, and were going over the sea to Capernaum. It was now dark, and Jesus had not come to them. 18 The sea was tossed by a great wind blowing. 19 When therefore they had rowed about twenty-five or thirty stadia, they saw Jesus walking on the sea, and drawing near to the boat; and they were afraid. 20 But he said to them, “It is I. Don’t be afraid.” 21 They were willing therefore to receive him into the boat. Immediately the boat was at the land where they were going.
World English Bible, public domain. The whole chapter on Free Scripture → · Read in the NRSVue, the ELCA’s standard translation →
The other readings
In the order they are read on Sunday, before the Gospel.
2 Kings 4:42-44
A man brings twenty barley loaves to the man of God, who has them served to a hundred people, and there are leftovers, as the LORD said.
Read it here
42 A man from Baal Shalishah came, and brought the man of God some bread of the first fruits: twenty loaves of barley and fresh ears of grain in his sack. He said, “Give to the people, that they may eat.” 43 His servant said, “What, should I set this before a hundred men?” But he said, “Give the people, that they may eat; for the LORD says, ‘They will eat, and will have some left over.’ ” 44 So he set it before them, and they ate, and had some left over, according to the LORD’s word.
World English Bible, public domain. The whole chapter on Free Scripture → · Read in the NRSVue, the ELCA’s standard translation →
Psalm 145:10-18
A song of praise for the LORD’s everlasting kingdom, who lifts up those who fall and is near to all who call on him.
Read it here
10 All your works will give thanks to you, the LORD. Your saints will extol you. 11 They will speak of the glory of your kingdom, and talk about your power, 12 to make known to the sons of men his mighty acts, the glory of the majesty of his kingdom. 13 Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom. Your dominion endures throughout all generations. The LORD is faithful in all his words, and loving in all his deeds. 14 The LORD upholds all who fall, and raises up all those who are bowed down. 15 The eyes of all wait for you. You give them their food in due season. 16 You open your hand, and satisfy the desire of every living thing. 17 The LORD is righteous in all his ways, and gracious in all his works. 18 The LORD is near to all those who call on him, to all who call on him in truth.
World English Bible, public domain. The whole chapter on Free Scripture → · Read in the NRSVue, the ELCA’s standard translation →
Ephesians 3:14-21
Paul kneels in prayer that the Ephesians be rooted in love and come to know the love of Christ, which is greater than all knowledge.
Read it here
14 For this cause, I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, 16 that he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, that you may be strengthened with power through his Spirit in the inner person, 17 that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith, to the end that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may be strengthened to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and height and depth, 19 and to know Christ’s love which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. 20 Now to him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, 21 to him be the glory in the assembly and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen.
World English Bible, public domain. The whole chapter on Free Scripture → · Read in the NRSVue, the ELCA’s standard translation →
Some congregations follow the RCL’s other track this Sunday, which reads an Old Testament book straight through over several weeks: 2 Samuel 11:1–15 and Psalm 14 in place of the first reading and psalm above.
A question to carry into the week
A boy gave what little he had, and it fed thousands. What small thing do you have that God could use?
For your newsletter or sermon notes
This reading is told as a story on our sister site, Free Scripture, one scene at a time in plain words. The lines below are ready to paste. The next eight Sundays, and every story.
Lectionary 17 (Proper 12) · Revised Common Lectionary, Year B · the same Sunday at the Vanderbilt Divinity Library. Scripture text: World English Bible, public domain.
Revised Common Lectionary copyright © 1992 Consultation on Common Texts. www.commontexts.org Used by permission.