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?