Home and The Whole Armor of God

 Link to Scripture readings.

In this week's lesson we read about Solomon building God a dwelling, a home, the first temple. In the gospel reading, many followers leave Jesus when he tells them he must they must eat of his flesh, and drink of his blood, foreboding the Last Supper, the Eucharist, and his crucifixion. When Jesus tells them they are free to go, Peter asks, in essence, "Lord, where, to whom can we go." Peter goes on to say "You have the words of eternal life, and we have come to believe and know you are the Holy One of God."

So where, and to whom, do we go? What is home for us? What does home mean to us? What about the homeless? I never thought I would leave my home of 42 years, the town and State, city of my work, and my dear home church of more than 17 years, but my wife and I did to be of help to our youngest son and daughter-in-law in law in caring for their children, our granddaughters, when their work in healthcare and church put such demands on their time and themselves. It hasn't been without its human costs, sacrifice, and emptying of those things we held onto for so long. But we have found home is where the heart is, and where the Lord is. In giving up most of our possessions, we have been freed to find the love of God through Jesus and family, especially seeing our grandchildren grow from infants to young children. Jesus didn't leave us when we left our home of 42 years. He dwells within us, if we let him. Especially if we give up our possessiveness. 

Finally,  we are called to put on the whole armor of God. What does that mean? Why? Read The Rev. Amy Richter's "The Truth Will Make Us Odd."

You are what you eat

  Scripture:

1 Kings 2:10-12; 3:3-14 and Psalm 111  • 

Proverbs 9:1-6 and Psalm 34:9-14  • 

 

Ephesians 5:15-20  • 

 

John 6:51-58

  

We have been studying the bread of life teachings of Jesus, and have enjoyed a smorgasbord of Scripture from manna come down from heaven to the feeding of the 5,000; Elijah, in his exhaustion, being fed by an angel, and sharing a cake with a starving widow and her son. We saw the daughter of the Syro-Phoenician woman healed as Jesus expanded his ministry to include all, when the Syro-Phoenician woman rejoined him with "even dogs receive crumbs from the table." David, feeding the shewbread of the priests to his hungry warriors. Jesus spoke in many parables about feasts, such as the welcoming feast of the Father for the Prodigal Son, and the wedding feast expanded to all when those invited did not come, or who weren't diligent enough to stay awake.

Ultimately, the feeding and hunger stories all lead to the table of the Lord. In today's gospel, Jesus tells us what it is to partake of the bread of life in the sacrament of communion, The Eucharist. 

You've heard the expression, "You are what you eat." It has an interesting origin and meaning. See "What's the meaning of 'You are what you eat."

In the feast of The Eucharist,  we are invited to encounter the very presence of God, the feast of eternal life, and all that entails. For a glimpse of what that entails, read Fr. Bernie Pearson's "Eternal Life." In celebrating The Eucharist, in the exchange of the elements, it is said

 The Body of Christ, the bread of heaven. [Amen.] The Blood of Christ, the cup of salvation. Keep you in eternal life."

The Heart of the Father

  Scripture:  2 Samuel 18:5-9, 15, 31-33 and Psalm 130  •1 Kings 19:4-8 and Psalm 34:1-8  • Ephesians 4:25-5:2  • John 6:35, 41-51

In "Enough to Raise the Dead," The Rev. Charles Hoffacker reveals to us the heart of the Father from the Scriptures today. From the heart of David who does not revel in the victory which saves his kingdom, but mourns the loss of his son Absalom, to God the Father who weeps with us at the death of his Son on a cruel Roman cross, to the celebration of the return of the prodigal son, to the broken heart of any suffering parent who has lost a child, or whose child is hurt, wounded, sick, or born with problems.

Read his discussion of Strict Father and Heavenly Father. What do you think of the heart of God the Father? How does that translate into how you live your life, and the values you espouse? What do you think of his statement "But God sees us not simply as ourselves, but in his child Jesus."  How does this relate to Jesus' claim that he is the bread of life, and his and our relationship with God? How do you perceive of God the Father?

Continuing with Jesus' "I am" sayings in John's gospel, and that he is the bread of life, in today's reading he says he is the manna come down from heaven. What does this mean for us? In the passage from 1 Kings, we see the feeding of Elijah who is famished and exhausted, fleeing from Jezebel.  Read Debie Thomas' "Bread to Carry." God provides for his beloved people. 

And then there is the meal of eternal life, life everlasting. The Eucharist. Read one of the best homilies I have read about the Eucharist in 

Kirk Alan Kubicek's "Abide in My Love."

Hunger free?

  Scripture:  2 Samuel 11:26 - 12:13a and Psalm 51:1-12  • Exodus 16:2-4, 9-15 and Psalm 78:23-29  • Ephesians 4:1-16  • John 6:24-35

What do we hunger for? Do we do the right things for the wrong reasons, or the wrong things for the right reasons? How can our hunger be satisfied?

This week's gospel from the 6th chapter of John follows John's account of the feeding of the 5,000. John crafts his gospel around discerning the identity of Jesus. We are studying the "I am the bread of life" theme, and claim of Jesus.

This lesson begs the question "for what do we hunger?" Consider a man after God's own heart, David. What did he hunger for? What did God do to and with him?

What did the Israelites hunger for as they wandered in the desert? What did God do?

Glenn Monson has an excellent discussion in his blog this week "Hunger Free," as does Sister Kym Harris in her separate "Exposition," and "Reflection" Read Debie Thomas' "Deep Hunger."

How can we be authentic?

Making the most from what we are given

 

Click this link for Today's Scripture.

God provides something out of nothing. That is the basic story of creation, and it is the way God provided manna for his people in the wilderness. But the story in this week's gospel is different. Jesus does not make something out of nothing here. No — he takes what God has already provided. He draws out the resources that are already present in the community. 

Jesus gets the disciples, and us, to see what’s there with new eyes. The disciples are coming from a place of fear, of scarcity: there will never be enough! What Jesus shows us is that, whatever we have, whatever God has already given us, is always enough. If we look at it in the right way. If we decide to share. If we let go of our fear and stop holding onto to what’s “ours” so tightly. If we can do those things, we absolutely have enough bread to feed the whole world. 

Whatever we brought with us is what we have to share, and there’s plenty for everyone, and more left over besides. This is a pretty compelling picture of what the Kingdom of God is like.

Read Debie Thomas' "The Miracle of Gathering."

Here’s another way of looking at it: this story about feeding the five thousand is the first supper, instead of the last supper. Jesus sat down and broke bread with his friends many times over the course of his ministry, not just that last night in the upper room. It’s important to remember that the last supper is not the only Eucharistic feast in the Gospels. Every time Jesus broke bread with friends, it was a thanksgiving meal (for that is what eucharist means—thanksgiving). 

-The Rev. Jason Cox in "Take, Bless,  Break, and Give. " See also Jessie Larkins, "Dream or Deliverance?" 

We need both rest and discernment

Scripture: 2 Samuel 7:1-14a and Psalm 89:20-37  • Jeremiah 23:1-6 and Psalm 23  • Ephesians 2:11-22  • Mark 6:30-34, 53-56

This week Jesus invites his disciples, and us, to rest, get away to a quiet place, all by ourselves. He had sent the disciples out to spread the good news, and had just heard the bad news of the unjust death of John the Baptist, who prepared the way for Jesus and his journey to the cross. The crowds were pressing him so much - they were so hungry for his teaching, his healing, his peace. And Jesus knew that he, the disciples, and us, need rest and renewal. In the 23rd Psalm, the Shepherd Lord " maketh me to lie down beside still waters."

Just as he was about to shove off in a boat, he saw people with needs. With gut wrenching compassion he could not leave without what? He did not feed them first. He first taught them. What did he teach them? What need did they have more than food? What needs do we have? How do we respond to needs of others? How do we get our rest? Read what The Rev. Rick Morley has to say in "Jesus' Man-Cave, a reflection on Mark 6:30-34; 53-56." Read also Debie Thomas' "The Gift of Rest."

And just when we think we have it all together, all figured out, and resting on our accomplishments, we are reminded, even when we think we are doing the Lord's work, that our agenda is not necessarily God's agenda. David, a man after God's own heart, whom God loved although a murderer and adulterer, thought he was doing God a favor when he wanted to build God a house. What did God tell David through the prophet Nathan? See Sam Rowen's "Whose Agenda Is It Anyway?" Even though David did not get to do what he wanted to do to honor God, God blessed him beyond his wildest hopes and dreams. Through Christ, from the line of David, God has blessed us beyond our wildest dreams, too.

When life is not what we want or hope for

 Scripture: 2 Samuel 6:1-5, 12b-19 and Psalm 24  • Amos 7:7-15 and Psalm 85:8-13  • Ephesians 1:3-14  • Mark 6:14-29

When life is not a fairy tale, and life is not what we expected, or hoped for, what do we do? Read The Rev. Rebecca D. Dinovo's "New Narratives."

What about, truth, fake and false news, and disinformation?  Speaking of King Herod's perplexity in his enjoyment of listening to John the Baptist, but who ultimately had him beheaded to save face, in her article, "Greatly Perplexed," read what Debie Thomas says this, "When the rubber hits the road, and the time comes to make a decision.