True Religion and Self Deception

Scripture: Song of Solomon 2:8-13 and Psalm 45:1-2, 6-9  • Deuteronomy 4:1-2, 6-9 and Psalm 15  • James 1:17-27  • Mark 7:1-8, 14-15, 21-23
We return to Mark's gospel after five weeks of study of "I am the bread of life" sayings in the gospel of John. Perhaps fittingly, "food" provides a perfect back-drop for another of Jesus' teachings. Jesus teaches us about "true religion" as opposed to "worship in vain." What does Jesus mean when he says it is not the things coming in from outside, but that from within which defiles? What does he say about the "purity laws," and "tradition"? Is this contradictory to God's commands to keep the commandments of the Lord your God, and not to add or subtract anything to or from them.

James, the brother of Jesus, gives us a lesson on faith, and true religion when he says "Be you doers of the word, not merely hearers who deceive themselves." From this, what is "true religion," "real faith?" What about ritual, commandments, and tradition? Read Dan Clendenin's "Jesus and James: "Vain Worship" and "True Religion."

We have also considered the "presence of God," in our bread of life readings. How does this week's scripture relate to the presence of God? See Jane Anne Ferguson's "Practicing Presence."

How can we keep from deceiving ourselves in our worship, our work, and our relationships?

More than Bread

Scripture: 1 Kings 8:(1,6,10-11), 22-30, 41-43 and Psalm 84  • Joshua 24:1-2a, 14-18 and Psalm 34:15-22  • Ephesians 6:10-20  • John 6:56-69

We take up where we left off last week as we continue in "The Bread of Life" passages in the gospel of John. Jesus said we must eat of his flesh and drink of his blood that he may abide in us and we in him. This week our authors tell us that we are now given a choice. We can walk away like most of his followers, or stay as did the twelve, even Judas, and say as Peter said, "Where else can we go, Lord? You have the words of eternal life. Go or stay. Stay as in "abide - remain, as one."

For Karoline Lewis, the emphasis is on the bread "of life." In "Not Just Bread Anymore," drawing on the account of those who chose to withdraw from following Jesus, Lewis describes those who reject the relationship and call to become intimately one with Christ, and the abundant life he offers to all in the language of betrayal. Rejecting that we are worthy of the love of Christ, and an intimate relationship with the loving God, the Word made flesh.

In "Choosing Presence," Jane Anne Ferguson identifies the themes of presence and choice in this week's lectionary readings. We see Solomon causing the Ark of the Covenant to be moved into the temple he has built for God, Joshua asking the children of Israel who they will worship, the psalmist in Psalm 84 praising the splendor of God's dwelling place, the Ephesians putting on the whole armor of God, followers of Jesus leaving him. Where is God present? What are our choices with God?

The bread of wholeness which abides

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 sayings of Jesus in the Gospel of John. Jesus uses the image of bread to get his message across - the staple of life itself. But this week he shocks not only the religious leaders of his time, with all their rules about what can be eaten and how it is to be prepared, but many who have followed him now leave him when he tells us we must eat his flesh and drink his blood. He tells us we need to do this to live both now and forever.

What does he mean? For Sharron Blezard in "We Are What We Eat," this means not devouring what the world wants us to consume, but to be nourished in body and soul with Jesus. What does she mean?

For The Rev. David Lose in "Meeting the Carnal God," in the Eucharistic feast, Jesus invites us to be wholly one with him. How much closer can we get than to actually ingest him? He tells us that God is not satisfied with less than our whole selves. He is the God who comes for our whole selves. In accepting the love offered by the God who sacrifices his son for us, we, in all our sin and brokenness are restored to a relationship with God, and each other. Thanks be to God. Thanks - the Eucharist is a feast of thanksgiving, and of good gifts.

 

When life becomes undone - from the 'Bread of Life' series

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

What can we do when life becomes "undone?" How do you find the strength to go on, to care, when you lose a child, a spouse, a parent, a sibling, a good friend? When a loved one has dementia, or is addicted to drugs? When life just doesn't seem to make sense anymore. How can we even eat at such times?

King David laments the death of his son Absalom. Psalm 130 begins "Out of the depths, I cry to you, O Lord!" Elijah is in deep despair for his life, and seemingly does not have the strength, or will to eat. Paul adjures us to live in love, be imitators of God, as beloved children, putting aside bitterness, wrath, wrangling, slander, and all malice... to be kind, tenderhearted, and forgiving one another, as God in Christ has forgiven us. To not let the sun go down on our anger.

 How do we do that? This lesson is another consideration of the "Bread of Life" sayings of Jesus in John's gospel. What is "the bread of life?" What does Jesus offer us when we are "Eaten up by life," as Andrew Prior characterizes it in his article? How does Paul's letter to the Ephesians on being imitators of God relate to what Jesus tells us about the bread of life? Consider Dan Clendenin's "Imitators of God." [These are articles are not offered for political content, but for reflection and discussion on our common human concerns and dilemmas].

Are we what we eat?

 

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

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 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."

What do we hunger for? How can we be authentic, as Kym Harris says, in our Christian lives and witness? Do we do the right things for the wrong reasons, or the wrong things for the right reasons? How can our hunger be satisfied?