Church of the
Annunciation

We use the expression: “Be true to your self.” St. Paul says something very similar in his letter to the Ephesians: “Live in a manner worthy of the call you have received.” The task given to us “to preserve unity of the spirit through the bond of peace” is at the same time the gift that we have received in Christ. In our Gospel today, John the evangelist recalls the feeding of the multitude. He speaks of the miracle as a “sign.” In the Gospel of John, Jesus performs seven signs that have profound “sign”ificance or meaning for those who come to experience life in Christ. The feeding of the multitude is sign number four. The first sign in the Gospel according to John is the miracle where Jesus changes water into wine during a wedding feast at Cana in Galilee. The evangelist remarks that God’s glory is revealed and the faith of the disciples is deepened. As we gather for Eucharist, the world gathers in London for the Olympic Games. “Unity in peace” is a fundamental calling for church and for the world community. We must live in solidarity and in the hope of our calling in Christ.