Bitter Or Better?

There is a famous etching by Rembrandt depicting Jesus driving the money-changers out of the Temple …

There is no halo around Jesus’ head, but there is one around his hand holding the whip. Rembrandt’s reason for doing this has been long-debated by art critics. But there can be no debate over the meaning the picture should convey to us. Jesus’ hand was a holy hand. Jesus’ hand was a sacred hand, because He used it as an instrument of service. Driving the money-changers from the Temple was an act of loving service to the poor people who were being exploited.

And in today’s Gospel Lesson Jesus uses His Sacred hand to bless, break and give to His disciples the five loaves and two fish that fed and nourished many thousands of hungry people. “He took the five loaves and the two fish … then He broke them and handed them to His disciples to distribute among the crowd. They all ate as much…