"How about some good "compani" Italian 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 have been studying "the bread of life," "bread of heaven" sayings of Jesus in John's gospel. This week The Rev. Dr. Joseph S. Pagano, in "The Bread of Life," gives us further insight into the life - eternal and abundant - given to us by Christ, using the analogy of sturdy Italian bread. "We see something of this bread-like virtue in our word “companion,” which literally means someone with whom bread is shared: com, meaning “with,” and pani, meaning “bread.” Acom-panion is someone with whom we break bread. And when we break bread with someone, we are in communion with them." Read about the transformative power of the Holy Eucharist in the life of Diana the cupbearer. In one of our communion prayers we say, “Deliver us from the presumption of coming to this table for solace only, and not for strength; for pardon only, and not for renewal. Let the grace of this Holy Communion make us one body, one spirit in Christ, that we may worthily serve the world in his name.” We share the bread of life so that we may be strengthened and renewed to go forth into the word with a message of life and love. In small and large ways, sharing in the bread of life, sharing in Christ’s love, transforms us and our world.

Fr. Rick Morley, in "the bloody truth," contrasts Jesus' invitation to eat his flesh and drink his blood with the law of Leviticus 17:14 "For the life of every creature—its blood is its life; therefore I have said to the people of Israel: You shall not eat the blood of any creature, for the life of every creature is its blood; whoever eats it shall be cut off." What is Jesus doing here? Why? See the comments of Anthony B. Robinson.

Jesus' provocative words... the Body and the Blood

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

Continuing the "I am the bread of life," sayings of Jesus from John's gospel, this week Jesus tells religious authorities: "Unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood have eternal life, and I will raise them up on the last day; for my flesh is true food and my blood is true drink."

Both Fr. Rick Morley in "eucharistic bombshells – a reflection on John 6:51-58, " and The Rev. Larry Patten in "I Am The Living Croissant” search Jesus' words, and the context in which they are spoken, as well as their significance for us today. Both believe Jesus' comments were provocative, and uttered with the purpose of awakening us to the freedom of living out the honest truth of God's love for us, and for our neighbors - this is living the abundant life - not the superficial prosperity, feel good so called "gospel" we see and hear so much about today. Jesus radically calls us out to live and love unconditionally and sacrificially, and in so doing we shall see the glory of God.

“O taste and see that the Lord is good.”

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

We study again Jesus telling us he is the bread of life. Last week he told us we need bread to eat to nourish our bodies, and bread for our souls, which never leaves us hungry. This week Jesus tells his detractors and complainers, "I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats of this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh." 

What is it to eat of the bread of heaven? How does it affect our lives? It can break down barriers, egos, and all that separates us from the love of God, and who he calls us to be. 

Peter Woods tells us; "For you to have earthly bread requires the sweat of your brow. That’s your creature curse carried from Adam. Yet foreshadowed by the manna of the wilderness and now fully revealed in Jesus; the bread of life is offered to all who are hungry enough to trust that five barley loaves and two fish can feed a multitude. There is nothing to achieve or to do. Which means you cannot decide or designate who gets some and who doesn’t. You are not the baker nor the distributor. You are just another hungry pilgrim on the hillside or in the wilderness."  See his "What beggars know about bread."

Jim Ogden, in "Where's God when we're in trouble?" takes us through the gamut of human despair and joy, as David, after his sin and  learning of the death of his rebellious son, cries "Absalom, my Absalom, would only I had died instead of you." Elijah despairs after he summoned God's power in the  great victory over the prophets of Baal, fearing for his life, and wanting to die. God's angel bade him eat of bread provided by God for his long journey. Jesus is the bread of life, sent form heaven. Always present. He asks when do we look for God, or what do we ask of God? Ogden says "The reading from Ephesians puts it right on the bottom shelf.  What we need in our times of trouble is love embodied in everyday acts of truth and kindness.  Do we need to be recalled to the simple values of human relationship?  Living them is not always as simple as speaking them, but maybe we need to give it a try. 

Tell the truth, don’t steal, work hard, don’t talk trash about other people (how about don’t talk trash at all), don’t be bitter and angry and contentious, be kind, forgive—and the list goes on. (See especially Ephesians 4:25, 28-29, 31-32)  Doing these things will not save us.  No one will live them to perfection.  They remind us, however, of where to look for God and how to live through times of trouble.  Pay attention to the relationships around us.  God is there, and we are to “be imitators of God.” (Ephesians 5:1).

"The Bread of Heaven"

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

Last week we studied the feeding of 5,000 from the account in John's gospel, and people begin to ask just who this Jesus is. We discussed God's power. This week we learn more about the transformative power of God in the presence of Jesus, who tells us he is the bread of life. Jesus teaches us, and feeds us what we need, not necessarily what we want, and we are transformed if only we have ears to hear, and hearts open to his message and love.


Dianne Bergant, in "Bread of Heaven," tells us: "Jesus makes a bold claim today: “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me will never hunger.” Paul insists that acceptance of Jesus as the real source of our life and the very nourishment of our spirits effects a total transformation in us. We are no longer content to live with full bellies but empty minds. We put aside our old selves steeped in ignorance and self-interest, and we put on a new self, created in Christ’s image. Having fed on the bread from heaven, we are mysteriously transformed into it. The spirit of our minds has been renewed. We have learned Christ; we are nourished by his teaching. As a result, we launch out into a way of living that witnesses to our new understanding, our new life."


Christopher Burkett, in "The Ultimate Restorative," says: "Common stuff of living and God through Jesus takes them and transforms them into the  new things of his kingdom. Bread of life indeed! Like any good craftsman, God takes ordinary things and shapes them into something wonderful. He is not jealous with his skill. He shares it. He takes, he blesses, he breaks, he gives. And he is generous enough to call us his body that through us his action might be known in the world. Bread and wine are taken off the tables of our daily lives and put into Jesus' hands to be transformed into what he meant all things to be – a direct means of contact between humankind and God." - We are joined and reconciled with God in the presence of Christ in the celebration of the Holy Eucharist.

An offertory invitation by John Westerhoff:

Sisters and brothers, I invite you to bring your lives in their 
brokenness and incompleteness and lay them in bread and wine on Christ's table, 
a sacrifice holy and acceptable to God; that in this holy Eucharist God might 
take your life, transform it, and give it back to you made whole, infused with 
the life of Christ, that you might go forth to love and serve in his name. 

"Reflections on God's Power"

Scripture: 2 Samuel 11:1-15 and Psalm 14  • 2 Kings 4:42-44 and Psalm 145:10-18  • 

Ephesians 3:14-21  • John 6:1-21

We have followed David’s story from shepherd boy to king the last few weeks as well as stories of Jesus’ healing compassion.  We have seen God working through the small and lowly, in ways we might not expect, looking to our hearts. Two weeks ago David danced in the street and brought the ark of the covenant into the center of the kingdom – much like the gospel is brought into the center of our nave and read in the midst of God’s people in our church service. Last week David wanted to build God a house. God, who travels with his people in a tent, instead promised to establish the house and throne of David forever, promising that a son of David would be as a son to God. God took on a tent of flesh in the presence of our Lord.

This week we have several passages concerning feeding God’s people. Something the people of St. Mark’s has made part of our mission in housing and supporting Christ’s Kitchen. In the account in John’s gospel of the feeding of the five thousand from two fish and five loaves, John shows God’s power at work. Kate Huey, in her “Reflections,” brings together many themes in this week’s lesson about God’s power. What are the various themes she discusses, and comparisons she makes, in helping us discern the power and abundance of God’s love?

Why "Rest," Shabbat, is Important.

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

Shepherds dominate the imagery of this week’s lesson. David the shepherd-king, the Lord is my Shepherd from the 23^rd Psalm, Jeremiah’s bad shepherds and good shepherds, and the Lord as our Good Shepherd.

One of the things we need for living in God’s kingdom is “rest.” In the gospel passage, the disciples have returned from missions, sent by Jesus. Jesus told them "Come away to a deserted place all by yourselves and rest a while." For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat. Crowds of sick, hungry, thirsty and “needy” people almost besiege them as they travel. Even when they went away in a boat to a deserted place, they were mobbed. What did Jesus see, and feel? What is the description of the crowd as seen by Jesus? Read David Lose’s “Rest.”

What does Jesus’ call to come away and rest mean to you? How is “rest” described in the shepherd passages? Read “Sheep and Shepherds” by H. Stephen Shoemaker. On the Sabbath? Read “Sheep and Shepherds” by H. StephenShoemaker. Why is “rest” important? 

“Dancing with all your might! And a Tale of Two Banquets.”

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

We have been reflecting on faith and the power and kingdom of God. We have seen God at work in the weak and small, and contrasted its freedom from fear and doubt. We have learned that God looks to our hearts, and learned the perspective of putting God first – putting aside all that stands in the way of bringing about the kingdom of God.

This week The Rev. Dr. Barbara K. Lundblat offers us further insight comparing Herod’s banquet followed by the beheading of John the Baptist, and Jesus’ banquet in the feeding of 5,000 with 5 loaves and 2 fishes in "Two Very Different Banquets." What is the contrast in these two banquets? What helps bring about God’s kingdom? What stands in the way of bringing about God’s kingdom?

Consider also the Old Testament reading from 1 Samuel of David and the house of Israel dancing in the street with all their might, and his bringing of the ark of the covenant to his royal city. What is the significance of that? What did they do after they brought the ark into David’s Jerusalem? Read The Rev. Kathryn Matthew Huey's "God Inspired Joy."