Choose the bread of life

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?

Solomon and the beginning of wisdom

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

 

The Rev. Debi Thomas in "The Beginning of Wisdom," begins with the endearing and humble young King Solomon who asks God for the gift of wisdom instead of riches, power, and fame. But she does not stop there. There is much to be learned when we read the Bible, not through our own biases and preferences, but searching out God's meaning for us in context, and through all the messiness we might tend, or want, to set aside. 

Solomon was renowned for his store of wisdom, fame, power, riches, the building of the temple, but also known for murder, intrigue, the heavy taxation and forced labor of his people, for his harem, and satisfying his immense desires and appetites. In short, he was human, and this week's lesson would have us confront our own gifts, glories and shortcomings, in all our humanity, without whitewash or sugar coating, to heed God's calling to be our better selves, and recognize what is truly meaningful, important, and what we are called to do and be in light of God's love, gifts, and wishes for us in all of, and despite of, our messiness. Such is the beginning of wisdom.

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? The passage from 1 Kings, we see the feeding of Elijah who is famished and exhausted, feeing 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

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?