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Today marks the 25th Sunday of St. Cyprian’s broadcasting our worship service online either by live-streaming, or by recording the service beforehand.  For almost six months we have been living in response to the COVID-19 coronavirus … changing the patterns and practices of our work, worship, and social interactions.  While we may be becoming more accustomed to frequent handwashing, masks, and distancing, we continue to face unfamiliar fears and frustrations in our everyday lives.  In spite of the efforts of many to arrest the spread of the coronavirus, we continue to watch both COVID-19 cases and death counts increase nationally at a distressing rate. And, I believe that many of us are experiencing some degree of “pandemic fatigue” … the emotional and physical exhaustion resulting from the stress of uncertainty, anxiety, and change to daily routines.

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​Sermon by The Rev. Deena M. Galantowicz

From our Gospel reading this morning we heard that when Peter declared that Jesus was the Messiah, the Son of God, Jesus said that God had revealed that truth to Peter.  God does INDEED provide revelations to us mortals.  It is as if God wants us to know that he is in touch with us.  The Bible is full of stories of persons who have received revelations from God, helping us to know that a revelation may happen to anyone, anytime, any place.  

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During these summer months we’ve heard stories about our Abrahamic tradition from the Book of Genesis … stories about Abraham & Sarah, Isaac & Rebecca and their sons Esau and Jacob, and lately about Jacob’s family … especially his son Joseph.  Jacob had eleven sons … their mothers were Leah, Leah’s maid, Rachel’s maid, and finally the love of Joseph’s life, Rachel.  Joseph … born of Rachel … was the youngest … and was born when Jacob was old.  So, Jacob loved Joseph more than his other sons.  

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During my childhood, since the time I was an infant, my family vacationed on the coast of North Carolina.  My youngest years were spent visiting my grandparents on their farm alongside the Neuse River.  Later, we stayed in Beaufort, a pre-Revolutionary War town that my ancestors helped settle.  As the family grew, and we spent more time on the beach, my family rented a house in nearby Morehead City.  

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The Feeding of the Five Thousand.  Interestingly, this story is found in all four gospels.  In Matthew and Mark there is also the story of the story of the Feeding of Four Thousand.  This story is included in all three of our lectionary cycles, so it is an option every year … every summer.  I’ve preached on the Miracle of the Feeding of the Five Thousand many times … but not today.