Wrestling with the Angel

 

 

22The same night he got up and took his two wives, his two maids, and his eleven children, and crossed the ford of the Jabbok. 23He took them and sent them across the stream, and likewise everything that he had. 24Jacob was left alone; and a man wrestled with him until daybreak. 25When the man saw that he did not prevail against Jacob, he struck him on the hip socket; and Jacob’s hip was put out of joint as he wrestled with him. 26Then he said, “Let me go, for the day is breaking.” But Jacob said, “I will not let you go, unless you bless me.” 27So he said to him, “What is your name?” And he said, “Jacob.” 28Then the man said, “You shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel, for you have striven with God and with humans, and have prevailed.” 29Then Jacob asked him, “Please tell me your name.” But he said, “Why is it that you ask my name?” And there he blessed him. 30So Jacob called the place Peniel, saying, “For I have seen God face to face, and yet my life is preserved.” 31The sun rose upon him as he passed Penuel, limping because of his hip.

Genesis 32:22-31

 

Paul Gauguin: Vision after the sermon

Jacob Wrestling with the Angel

Vision After the Sermon

GAUGUIN, Paul

Scottish National Gallery

Edinburgh

Scotland

1888

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vision_After_the_Sermon

 

The passage about Jacob wrestling with the angel is often interpreted as the hard struggle some have with faith. Jacob had to wrestle the angel all night long. It wasn't until sunrise that the angel gave up and blessed Jacob.

Gauguin here shows the struggle against a feverish red background. In the foreground he put a group of Breton women, who according to the title had just attended a sermon.

In 1888 Gauguin spent much time in the coastal village of Port-Aven in Brittany, together with many other artists. Together with the painter Émile Bernard he developed a style called cloisonism. The name refers to the compartments (cloisons) separated by metal wires used in the creation of enamel objects. The painters used thin dark lines to draw contours around more or less monochrome fields.

This work is often considered as Gauguin's definite departure from the naturalism that dominated impressionism. He used strong colours, almost without gradients, contrary to what had been the tradition since the Renaissance. He also ignored the rules of perspective. The figures on the foreground are too large in relation to Jacob and the Angel. They also almost block the view on the wrestlers, who according to tradition should have been the central elements in the composition. No wonder that the church of Pont-Aven rejected the work when Gauguin offered it...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

https://www.artbible.info/art/large/603.html

 

Interesting site:

Paul Gauguin:  Vision after the Sermon. 1888. Analysis

http://artmarinagallery.blogspot.com/2013/03/paul-gauguin-vision-after-sermon-1888.html

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In the Catholic tradition, there is a form of grace, the sanctifying one, that is the stuff of your soul.  It is not defined by moments of mercy or opportunity; it is not good things happening to you.  Rather, it is the good thing that is in you, regardless of what happens.  

~ Imani Perry

 

 

 

 

 

If only I may grow:

firmer, simpler, — quieter, warmer.

~ Dag Hammarskjold

 

 

 

 

 

Queen City Jazz Band

 

Jazz Festival Gospel Service

Evergreen Christian Church

 

Dancing in the aisles

 

Several of us had lunch at Lariat Lodge after the service.

 

On Tuesday, the Painted Toe Art Society had lunch at Abrusci’s Fire and Vine.

Four of us were celebrating August birthdays!

 

Rowdy Rotarians met at the Lucky Penny Ranch on Thursday.

 

Gail Sharp, Chuck Adams

Gail, the owner of the Lucky Penny Ranch, is always so generous with sharing her ranch.

 

Amelia Parnell, Sondra Kellogg’s granddaughter, with Alan Rubin

 

The kids love the rope swing in the old barn.

 

Magical Moment

 

Charles Rose (Vicki’s nephew), Carolyn Alexander, Chance Rose

Chance is now 16!!!

 

Chance and Charles invited me to Charles’ house on Friday.

 

Merit Hellman-Funk, Roger Ambrosier

Merit had a potluck for the Senior Grief Group at her home.

 

 

Four of us had a delightful meal with John and Barbara Wingate.

Such a view!!!

 

Holly Brekke cutting her amazing chocolate mousse!

 

 

 

 

God put me on Earth to accomplish

a certain number of things.

Right now I'm so far behind I will never die!

~ Unknown

                                                   

 

 

 

 

 

August 6, 2023  Tenth Sunday after Pentecost: Proper 14 Year A

 

Previous OPQs may be found at:

 

 

1I am speaking the truth in Christ — I am not lying; my conscience confirms it by the Holy Spirit — 2I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. 3For I could wish that I myself were accursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my own people, my kindred according to the flesh. 4They are Israelites, and to them belong the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the worship, and the promises; 5to them belong the patriarchs, and from them, according to the flesh, comes the Messiah, who is over all, God blessed for ever. Amen.

Romans 9:1-5

Agnus Day, by James Wetzstein

Agnus Day appears with the permission of www.agnusday.org

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LECTIONARY

 

Genesis 32:22–31 

Psalm 17:1–7, 15 

Romans 9:1–5 

Matthew 14:13–21

 

 

Summary

Matthew’s account of the Feeding of the 5,000 emphasizes the connection to two Old Testament figures: Moses and Elisha. First, the Jesus and the crowd are in a desolate place, like the Israelites in the desert when they were fed by the manna from heaven. The disciples’ incredulous response to Jesus in verse 16 follows Elisha’s servant puzzled by how they could feed so many men with so few loaves. However, in contrast to these episodes, Jesus has them recline (“sit down” is an unfortunate English rendering) on “grass” indicating that Jesus’ feeding of his people will be a full meal, not just sustenance. After the four eucharistic actions (took, blessed, broke, gave) repeated in the institution of the Lord’s Supper, the crowd eats “as much as they wanted” with much left over.

https://www.preachingtoday.com/lectionary/

 

THE WORD:

The multiplication of the loaves and fish is the only one of Jesus’ miracles recorded in all four Gospels.  The early Christian community especially cherished this story because they saw this wonder as anticipating the Eucharist and the final banquet in the kingdom of God.  This miracle also has strong roots in the First Testament: For the peoples of both the First and New Testament, the image of a great banquet was an important visualization of the reign of God: the gifts of the land were unmistakable signs of their God’s great Providence; the Messiah’s coming was often portrayed as a great banquet with choice food and wines; the miracle of the loaves and fishes is a clear affirmation in God's providence.  Just as the merciful God feeds the wandering Israelites with manna in the desert, Jesus, “his heart moved with pity,” feeds the crowds who have come to hear him.

In Matthew’s account, Jesus acts out of his great compassion on the crowds.  First, he challenges the disciples to give what they have – five loaves and two fish.  Then he performs the four-fold action that prefigures the Eucharist: Jesus takes, blesses, breaks and gives the bread and fish to the assembled multitude, making of them a community of the Lord's banquet.

https://connectionsmediaworks.com/sundaygospel.html#aug6a

 

 

 

First Reading Genesis 32:22-31

22The same night he got up and took his two wives, his two maids, and his eleven children, and crossed the ford of the Jabbok. 23He took them and sent them across the stream, and likewise everything that he had. 24Jacob was left alone; and a man wrestled with him until daybreak. 25When the man saw that he did not prevail against Jacob, he struck him on the hip socket; and Jacob’s hip was put out of joint as he wrestled with him. 26Then he said, “Let me go, for the day is breaking.” But Jacob said, “I will not let you go, unless you bless me.” 27So he said to him, “What is your name?” And he said, “Jacob.” 28Then the man said, “You shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel, for you have striven with God and with humans, and have prevailed.” 29Then Jacob asked him, “Please tell me your name.” But he said, “Why is it that you ask my name?” And there he blessed him. 30So Jacob called the place Peniel, saying, “For I have seen God face to face, and yet my life is preserved.” 31The sun rose upon him as he passed Penuel, limping because of his hip.

Psalm 17:1-7, 15

1   Hear a just cause, O LORD; attend to my cry; 
          give ear to my prayer from lips free of deceit. 
2   From you let my vindication come; 
          let your eyes see the right.

3   If you try my heart, if you visit me by night, 
          if you test me, you will find no wickedness in me; 
          my mouth does not transgress. 
4   As for what others do, by the word of your lips 
          I have avoided the ways of the violent. 
5   My steps have held fast to your paths; 
          my feet have not slipped.

6   I call upon you, for you will answer me, O God; 
          incline your ear to me, hear my words. 
7   Wondrously show your steadfast love, 
          O savior of those who seek refuge 
          from their adversaries at your right hand.

15  As for me, I shall behold your face in righteousness; 
           when I awake I shall be satisfied, beholding your likeness.

Second Reading Romans 9:1-5

1I am speaking the truth in Christ — I am not lying; my conscience confirms it by the Holy Spirit — 2I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. 3For I could wish that I myself were accursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my own people, my kindred according to the flesh. 4They are Israelites, and to them belong the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the worship, and the promises; 5to them belong the patriarchs, and from them, according to the flesh, comes the Messiah, who is over all, God blessed for ever. Amen.

Gospel Matthew 14:13-21

13Now 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. 14When he went ashore, he saw a great crowd; and he had compassion for them and cured their sick. 15When 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.” 16Jesus said to them, “They need not go away; you give them something to eat.” 17They replied, “We have nothing here but five loaves and two fish.” 18And he said, “Bring them here to me.” 19Then 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. 20And all ate and were filled; and they took up what was left over of the broken pieces, twelve baskets full. 21And those who ate were about five thousand men, besides women and children.