A Moment Aside for 31 August 2021

 A Moment Aside --- 31 August 2021

 

 Some of these words sound strange.

      “Fiction” – Something held to be made up, and therefore, untrue.

      “Empire” – The un-Godly powers of the world, often quite selfish.

      “Gospel” – the Good News of Jesus Christ and the way of life it engenders

      “Judged” – Assessed, looked at, considered for its value

So Gospel and Empire judge each other and find the other to be fiction. Empire doesn’t like Gospel because Gospel criticizes it, finds it empty and without the eternal value Empire awards itself. Empire is full of self-aggrandizement and the worship of itself. It will go to great lengths of violence and terror to build itself up in front of others and in its own eyes. Empire demands service and fear on its own terms.

Gospel stands against Empire because it serves the will of God and the freedom of God’s people. Gospel gathers followers through freedom and forgiveness. Gospel knows Empire to be false and empty, even if it is powerful in an earthly sense. Gospel serves out of love and will suffer what Empire deals out.

Empire says it will last forever… but it never does. Gospel knows it will last forever because it serves God and God’s people in God’s grace.

 For I think that God has exhibited us apostles as last of all, as though sentenced to death, because we have become a spectacle to the world, to angels and to mortals. We are fools for the sake of Christ…  (1 Corinthians 4:9-10a)

the YouTube Link to this past Sunday's Worship Service

 

Good morning!

Here is the link to the video of this past Sunday's Service in the Church.

St. John's, Aylmer --- 29 August 2021

Another Reminder: In September, we will hold the Sunday Service in the Church on September 12 and September 19, both beginning at 11:00am.

Pr. John

An Announcement, the Day's Gospel, and the Sermon

 

(This morning, the Church council decided that the "in-person" worship services for September will be held on Sunday, September 12 and Sunday, September 19, at 11:00am. Both will take place in the Church sanctuary with the usual pandemic precautions.)

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Mark 7:1-8, 14-15, 21-23

7Now when the Pharisees and some of the scribes who had come from Jerusalem gathered around him, ²they noticed that some of his disciples were eating with defiled hands, that is, without washing them. ³(For the Pharisees, and all the Jews, do not eat unless they thoroughly wash their hands, thus observing the tradition of the elders; ⁴and they do not eat anything from the market unless they wash it; and there are also many other traditions that they observe, the washing of cups, pots, and bronze kettles.) ⁵So the Pharisees and the scribes asked him, “Why do your disciples not live according to the tradition of the elders, but eat with defiled hands?” ⁶He said to them, “Isaiah prophesied rightly about you hypocrites, as it is written,

‘This people honors me with their lips,
but their hearts are far from me;
⁷in vain do they worship me,
teaching human precepts as doctrines.’

⁸You abandon the commandment of God and hold to human tradition.”

¹⁴Then he called the crowd again and said to them, “Listen to me, all of you, and understand: ¹⁵there is nothing outside a person that by going in can defile, but the things that come out are what defile.” ²¹For it is from within, from the human heart, that evil intentions come: fornication, theft, murder, ²²adultery, avarice, wickedness, deceit, licentiousness, envy, slander, pride, folly. ²³All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person.”

 Listen to me, all of you, and understand: there is nothing outside a person that by going in can defile, but the things that come out are what defile.

·        We don’t talk much about defiling, do we? It’s not a word we often use. It can mean soiling something, but the idea takes us far beyond just getting dirty from work. It bears the idea of a conscious decision to mess up something moral or spiritual that should not be messed up.

·        Here Jesus is faced with criticism of his disciples’ ritual impurity, that their behaviour made them “unclean” according to the Law. What bothers Jesus is not the Law or those who uphold it, but what comes down to a selfish interpretation of the Law.

·        The Mosaic Law states that things are to be done a certain way, specifically the washing of food, pots and pans, and the person’s hands. We don’t usually see such things as spiritual or religious duties. Then, should things not be done properly, it was a matter religious defilement. Today we see it as a matter of hygiene and proper preparation of food. The pandemic had reinforced the idea of washing our hands often, although it really never was a bad idea.

·        Still Jesus does say that defilement is possible and he makes sure that all his hearers understand.  Listen to me, all of you, and understand: there is nothing outside a person that by going in can defile, but the things that come out are what defile. He lists a number of them and they have little or nothing to do with the washing of pots and jugs and hands. They are not examples of “ritual defilement.” Jesus tell us that it is from within the human heart that true defilement comes and it is there that such things are to be dealt with.

·        The word “defilement” still seems an odd one to use. Defilement appears to be related to the term “sacred.” If that’s the case, what would “defiling” and “sacred” have to do with us?

·        Could it be that WE are sacred? The Book of Genesis tells us that we are made in the image of God: So God created humankind in his image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. (Genesis 1:27) This may be an important idea when we discuss this text.

·        The things that corrupt and defile come from within the heart. I think we all know that. We’ve seen it in history and often in our own lives. Without going into the list of evil intentions that Jesus speaks of, we’ve all experienced this.

·        As an example of the evil intention of the heart, look at the first letter to Timothy which talks about money. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil… (1 Timothy 6:10) It is not money, but the love of money – a corruption of the heart – that causes the problem.

·        For this to be remedied, there needs to be a change of heart, a conversion. This can only happen through God’s grace, since none of us are without fault. It is through the love and mercy of God that our hearts can be healed and redirected toward the will of God and, in that, the common good of all creation.

·        It is in this love and mercy that we all hope and this has been promised to us – freely given by God through Jesus in the Spirit. It is in that Spirit of God that we live as redeemed sinners and people of the Good News.

Listen to me, all of you, and understand: there is nothing outside a person that by going in can defile, but the things that come out are what defile.

A Moment Aside for 26 August 2021

 A Moment Aside --- 26 August 2021

 

 

Bishop Robinson is a bishop of the Episcopal Church in the US, a part of the world-wide Anglican Communion. His ordination as a bishop was controversial at the time, but that doesn’t come into our discussion here. The point he is making does.

Do we see God as merciful and forgiving? Or do we see God as vengeful, angry, and unforgiving? What do we need to do to obtain forgiveness and peace from such a god? More often than not it becomes a matter for our own work, understanding, and achievement. The forgiveness and peace we desire and look for under those circumstances can only be found through our hard work, our sweat, and our deeds that we hope will earn us the forgiveness of God. It is then all “works” to use Luther’s term. If we can work and strive and achieve such forgiveness, then what is grace and of what value is Jesus’ life, cross, and resurrection? What indeed is that worth if we can do it ourselves?

The Gospel proclaims a different understanding of God and of the life (and death) of Jesus. The offering and giving of grace is the entire point. We cannot earn, achieve, demand, or work out God’s forgiveness. That forgiveness is in fact freely given, without cost to those who receive it. Our own human nature often bristles against such a thing, a result of our belief that “a thing is worth what you pay for it.” Free things are often seen as having a “catch” or a hidden cost. Free things are often considered worthless. Free tickets to a sporting event are often left behind since we have nothing to lose if we don’t take advantage of that gift.

We want to earn it… and we can’t. We want to deserve it… and we can’t. We might not believe that God could be so good… so we don’t believe it and refuse to hear the liberating message when it is proclaimed and call the proclaimer a trouble-maker.

Sad, isn’t it?

The Worship Service for this coming Sunday --- 29 August 2021

(This Sunday's Service will be held "in person" in the church at 11:00am. If possible, it will be recorded and posted on YouTube soon after. In the meantime, here are the readings for Sunday.)

The Fourteenth Sunday after Pentecost

The Opening Prayer

O God of strength, without you we are weak and wayward creatures. Protect us from all dangers that attack us from the outside, and cleanse us form all evil that arises from within ourselves, that we may be preserved through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.

Deuteronomy 4:1-2, 6-9

4So now, Israel, give heed to the statutes and ordinances that I am teaching you to observe, so that you may live to enter and occupy the land that the Lord, the God of your ancestors, is giving you. ²You must neither add anything to what I command you nor take away anything from it, but keep the commandments of the Lord your God with which I am charging you. ⁶You must observe them diligently, for this will show your wisdom and discernment to the peoples, who, when they hear all these statutes, will say, “Surely this great nation is a wise and discerning people!” ⁷For what other great nation has a god so near to it as the Lord our God is whenever we call to him? ⁸And what other great nation has statutes and ordinances as just as this entire law that I am setting before you today? ⁹But take care and watch yourselves closely, so as neither to forget the things that your eyes have seen nor to let them slip from your mind all the days of your life; make them known to your children and your children’s children—

Psalm 15

¹ O Lord, who may abide in your tent?

   Who may dwell on your holy hill?

² Those who walk blamelessly, and do what is right,

   and speak the truth from their heart;

³ who do not slander with their tongue,

   and do no evil to their friends,

   nor take up a reproach against their neighbors;

⁴ in whose eyes the wicked are despised,

   but who honor those who fear the Lord;

   who stand by their oath even to their hurt;

⁵ who do not lend money at interest,

   and do not take a bribe against the innocent.

   Those who do these things shall never be moved.

James 1:17-27

¹⁷Every generous act of giving, with every perfect gift, is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. ¹⁸In fulfillment of his own purpose he gave us birth by the word of truth, so that we would become a kind of first fruits of his creatures.

¹⁹You must understand this, my beloved: let everyone be quick to listen, slow to speak, slow to anger; ²⁰for your anger does not produce God’s righteousness. ²¹Therefore rid yourselves of all sordidness and rank growth of wickedness, and welcome with meekness the implanted word that has the power to save your souls. ²²But be doers of the word, and not merely hearers who deceive themselves. ²³For if any are hearers of the word and not doers, they are like those who look at themselves in a mirror; ²⁴for they look at themselves and, on going away, immediately forget what they were like. ²⁵But those who look into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and persevere, being not hearers who forget but doers who act—they will be blessed in their doing. ²⁶If any think they are religious, and do not bridle their tongues but deceive their hearts, their religion is worthless. ²⁷Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to care for orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world.

 

Mark 7:1-8, 14-15, 21-23

7Now when the Pharisees and some of the scribes who had come from Jerusalem gathered around him, ²they noticed that some of his disciples were eating with defiled hands, that is, without washing them. ³(For the Pharisees, and all the Jews, do not eat unless they thoroughly wash their hands, thus observing the tradition of the elders; ⁴and they do not eat anything from the market unless they wash it; and there are also many other traditions that they observe, the washing of cups, pots, and bronze kettles.) ⁵So the Pharisees and the scribes asked him, “Why do your disciples not live according to the tradition of the elders, but eat with defiled hands?” ⁶He said to them, “Isaiah prophesied rightly about you hypocrites, as it is written,

‘This people honors me with their lips,
but their hearts are far from me;
⁷in vain do they worship me,
teaching human precepts as doctrines.’

⁸You abandon the commandment of God and hold to human tradition.”

¹⁴Then he called the crowd again and said to them, “Listen to me, all of you, and understand: ¹⁵there is nothing outside a person that by going in can defile, but the things that come out are what defile.” ²¹For it is from within, from the human heart, that evil intentions come: fornication, theft, murder, ²²adultery, avarice, wickedness, deceit, licentiousness, envy, slander, pride, folly. ²³All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person.”

 

A Moment Aside for 24 August 2021

 

A Moment Aside --- 24 August 2021

 

I think this just about speaks for itself.

There are so many things that can distract us from hearing God whispering to us. Many of those things are unavoidable – health, work, family necessities, and so on. Still, the world around us in never really still. So much is happening and so much of it is really loud!

When we can take time even a brief moment to listen, we then hear the call of all those things we intended to do or want to do “when we get a free moment.” You know… mending, special cleaning, that one letter we wished to write, and so on.

Sometimes we have to lay aside even those real concerns and just… be… quiet. It takes practice and it’s worth it.

God will always speak even if we don’t understand. It is in quiet that we hear.

A Moment Aside for 19 August 2021

 

A Moment Aside --- 19 August 2021

 

 

"Christ has no body now, but yours. No hands, no feet on earth, but yours. Yours are the eyes through which Christ looks compassion into the world. Yours are the feet with which Christ walks to do good. Yours are the hands with which Christ blesses the world."

These are the words of Theresa of Avila, a Spanish Carmelite nun who was instrumental in the reform of her religious order. She and Martin Luther probably would not see eye to eye on very much. I think that they’d agree on this point however.

As Christians, we are to be “little Christs” to each other (to use Luther’s words.) As people of faith, it is our mission and ministry to reflect the light of Christ in the world. The church building is not there for that, because – let’s face it – most of us spend only about an hour or so a week in a building like that. Our faith is exercised in the rest of the week. Let’s hear all those words again:

"Christ has no body now, but yours. No hands, no feet on earth, but yours. Yours are the eyes through which Christ looks compassion into the world. Yours are the feet with which Christ walks to do good. Yours are the hands with which Christ blesses the world."

“It is the duty of every Christian to be Christ to his neighbor.”

 

The Scripture Readings for this coming Sunday ---- 22 August 2021

 

Here are the scripture readings for this coming Sunday… for your personal meditation.

Please remember that next Sunday’s service of Holy Communion will be in the Church sanctuary. I’d welcome your presence there!

Opening Prayer

Holy God, your word feeds your people with life that is eternal. Direct our choices and preserve us in your truth, that, renouncing what is false and evil, we may live in you, through your Son, Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.

Joshua 24:1-2a, 14-18

Then Joshua gathered all the tribes of Israel to Shechem, and summoned the elders, the heads, the judges, and the officers of Israel; and they presented themselves before God. 2And Joshua said to all the people, “Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel: Long ago your ancestors—Terah and his sons Abraham and Nahor—lived beyond the Euphrates and served other gods. 14“Now therefore revere the Lord, and serve him in sincerity and in faithfulness; put away the gods that your ancestors served beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the Lord.

15Now if you are unwilling to serve the Lord, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served in the region beyond the River or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living; but as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.” 16Then the people answered, “Far be it from us that we should forsake the Lord to serve other gods; 17for it is the Lord our God who brought us and our ancestors up from the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery, and who did those great signs in our sight. He protected us along all the way that we went, and among all the peoples through whom we passed; 18and the Lord drove out before us all the peoples, the Amorites who lived in the land. Therefore we also will serve the Lord, for he is our God.”

 

Psalm 34: 15-22

The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are open to their cry.

¹⁶ The face of the Lord is against evildoers, to cut off the remembrance of them from the earth.

¹⁷ When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears, and rescues them from all their troubles.

¹⁸ The Lord is near to the brokenhearted, and saves the crushed in spirit.

¹⁹ Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord rescues them from them all.

²⁰ He keeps all their bones; not one of them will be broken.

²¹ Evil brings death to the wicked, and those who hate the righteous will be condemned.

²² The Lord redeems the life of his servants; none of those who take refuge in him will be condemned.

 

Ephesians 6:10-20

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his power. 11Put on the whole armor of God, so that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12For our struggle is not against enemies of blood and flesh, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. 13Therefore take up the whole armor of God, so that you may be able to withstand on that evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. 14Stand therefore, and fasten the belt of truth around your waist, and put on the breastplate of righteousness. 15As shoes for your feet put on whatever will make you ready to proclaim the gospel of peace. 16With all of these, take the shield of faith, with which you will be able to quench all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17Take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. 18Pray in the Spirit at all times in every prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert and always persevere in supplication for all the saints.

19Pray also for me, so that when I speak, a message may be given to me to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel, 20for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it boldly, as I must speak.

 

John 6:56-69

[Jesus said} ⁶Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood abide in me, and I in them. ⁵⁷Just as the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so whoever eats me will live because of me. ⁵⁸This is the bread that came down from heaven, not like that which your ancestors ate, and they died. But the one who eats this bread will live forever.” ⁵⁹He said these things while he was teaching in the synagogue at Capernaum.

⁶⁰When many of his disciples heard it, they said, “This teaching is difficult; who can accept it?” ⁶¹But Jesus, being aware that his disciples were complaining about it, said to them, “Does this offend you? ⁶²Then what if you were to see the Son of Man ascending to where he was before? ⁶³It is the spirit that gives life; the flesh is useless. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life. ⁶⁴But among you there are some who do not believe.” For Jesus knew from the first who were the ones that did not believe, and who was the one that would betray him. ⁶⁵And he said, “For this reason I have told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted by the Father.” ⁶⁶Because of this many of his disciples turned back and no longer went about with him. ⁶⁷So Jesus asked the twelve, “Do you also wish to go away?” ⁶⁸Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom can we go? You have the words of eternal life. ⁶⁹We have come to believe and know that you are the Holy One of God.”

 

A Moment Aside for 17 August 2021

 

A Moment Aside --- 17 August 2021

 

We take our lives to be “ordinary” as in “run of the mill” or “nothing special.” It might be true that very little of what the people around us might call “exceptional” is happening with us from day to day.

This may be true. The quote at the head of this small devotional should make us pause and think. What we take as ordinary might just be quite exceptional. At times, it is a matter of perspective, of how we see things. Sometimes it’s a matter of our emotional state which will colour all we see and do.

With the eyes of faith and a level of attention, we could see that Henri Nouwen is right, what is going on in our lives could well be deep and mysterious, holy and sacred. Holy does not always mean full angelic choirs and blinding light. Sacred does not always mean fuzzy warm feelings and personal uplift and happiness. The sacred can be frightening and the holy can be challenging.

In spite of all that, this is what is happening to us. This is what God’s grace is making of us. To be aware of this – even a little bit – is a real gift from God.

And the one who was seated on the throne said,

“See, I am making all things new.”

(Revelation 21:5)

The Service of Word & Worship ----- 15 August 2021

 

The Twelfth Sunday after Pentecost

Prelude, Welcome, and Information Hymn #850  When in Our Music, God Is Glorified

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. And also with you. Psalm 34: 9-14 9   O fear the Lord, you his holy ones,     for those who fear him have no want. 10 The young lions suffer want and hunger,     but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing. 11 Come, O children, listen to me;    I will teach you the fear of the Lord. 12 Which of you desires life,    and covets many days to enjoy good? 13 Keep your tongue from evil,    and your lips from speaking deceit. 14 Depart from evil, and do good;     seek peace, and pursue it.

The Lord be with you.       And also with you. Let us pray. Ever-loving God, your Son gives himself as living bread for the life of the world. Fill us with such knowledge of his presence that we may be strengthened and sustained by his risen life to serve you continually, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord.  Amen.

Reading: Proverbs 9: 1-6

A reading from Proverbs

Wisdom has built her house,
  she has hewn her seven pillars.
²She has slaughtered her animals, she has mixed her wine,
  she has also set her table.
³She has sent out her servant-girls, she calls
  from the highest places in the town,
⁴“You that are simple, turn in here!”
   To those without sense she says,
⁵“Come, eat of my bread
   and drink of the wine I have mixed.
⁶Lay aside immaturity, and live,
   and walk in the way of insight.”

The Word of the Lord

Reading: Ephesians 5:15-20

A reading from the letter to the Ephesians

¹⁵Be careful then how you live, not as unwise people but as wise, ¹⁶making the most of the time, because the days are evil. ¹⁷So do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. ¹⁸Do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery; but be filled with the Spirit, ¹⁹as you sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves, singing and making melody to the Lord in your hearts, ²⁰giving thanks to God the Father at all times and for everything in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

The Word of the Lord.

 

Gospel Verse: 

Alleluia! Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood abide in me, and I abide in them. Alleluia!                                   

Gospel Reading: John 6: 51-58

A reading from the Gospel of John

⁵¹[Jesus said] “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.” ⁵²The Jews then disputed among themselves, saying, “How can this man give us his flesh to eat?” ⁵³So Jesus said to them, “Very truly, I tell you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. ⁵⁴Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood have eternal life, and I will raise them up on the last day; ⁵⁵for my flesh is true food and my blood is true drink. ⁵⁶Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood abide in me, and I in them. ⁵⁷Just as the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so whoever eats me will live because of me. ⁵⁸This is the bread that came down from heaven, not like that which your ancestors ate, and they died. But the one who eats this bread will live forever.”

This is the Gospel of the Lord.

Sermon (added at the end of the document)

Hymn    #689   Praise and Thanksgiving

Thanks and Offertory

Prayers of the Church:  

Trusting Jesus’ promise that we will be heard, we offer our prayers for the world God loves, the church God calls, and for all people according to their needs.

[Short pause]

God of bread, we give thanks for the Bread of Life, Jesus the Christ.  As you come to us in our worship, may we be more aware of your coming everywhere else.  God who is with us,
     Hear our prayer.

God of bread, we give thanks for your presence in our Eucharist.  Fill us to overflowing with your love and presence.  God who is with us,    Hear our prayer.

God of bread, you feed your people with your very self.  May we, in turn, offer ourselves to this hurting world, that all may be fed.  God who is with us,    Hear our prayer.

God of bread, save your church from confining you to our celebration of the sacrament.  Free us to receive you in all our bread.  Free us to share you with all our bread.  God who is with us,    Hear our prayer.

God of bread, you come in the physical.  Use to share your love with those who are physically hungry, lonely, isolated, mourning and sick, especially those we name before you.
[Long pause]
God who is with us,     Hear our prayer.

God of bread, feed us, sustain us, move us, that we may live as your feeding, sustaining, moving people.  God who is with us,
 Hear our prayer.

God of bread, bless our retired pastors (not serving congregations): Jack Dressler, Jim Garey, Tom Ristine, Jo von Schmeling, Glen Sellick, Bob Zimmerman, Paul Sodtke.      God who is with us     Hear our prayer.

We ask all this in the name of Jesus, our Bread and our Life.
    Amen.

Hymn     #691     Accept, O Lord, the Gifts We Bring

The Lord’s Prayer

Finally let us pray for all things as our Lord would have us ask:

Our Father, who art in heaven,

    hallowed be thy name,

    thy kingdom come,

    thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread;

    and forgive us our trespasses,

      as we forgive those who trespass against us;

    and lead us not into temptation,

       but deliver us from evil.

For thine is the kingdom, and the power,

         and the glory, forever and ever. Amen.

Hymn   #763   My Life Flows On in Endless Song

Benediction and Sending

The Lord bless you and keep you.

The Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you.

The Lord look upon you with favor and + give you peace.

                            Amen.

Go in peace. Serve the Lord.   Thanks be to God!

 

Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.

·        We continue to look at the sixth chapter of John, the “Bread of life” passages. The passage has been looked at in detail and over a few weeks. I’d say the reason for this is its importance, so that much attention has been put on it.

·        It IS important because Jesus is telling the people there and we people here that he is the bread of life, the vital point of existence without which all of us could starve and die. His words are chosen as if to shock us with both the earthiness and the intimacy of them. The word Jesus uses which we translate as “eat” is a very polite and almost dainty translation, and yet it gives offense. The actual word is closer to the English words “chew up” or “gnaw.” It could hardly be more down-to-earth… or possibly more offensive.

·        When Jesus preached and taught, he used parables and examples from people’s regular lives. In telling what his disciples were to do in actions, he did the same: Wash people; drink wine and eat bread. We wash to be clean and the washing of Baptism goes beyond the dust and dirt on the body. We eat and drink to nourish our bodies and stay alive and here that sustenance goes beyond the simple mechanics of digestion and nourishment of the body, far beyond it.

·        Jesus is using what people know and understand to explain what he knows and what he’s bringing them. Washing and eating are part of everyone’s lives. Jesus uses these figures to bring home the lesson that he wants to be real part of everyone’s lives. The physical form of washing and eating become more than physical. They become spiritual and the spiritual then in turn can return to the physical, renewed.

·        There are only a few things in a human life that are more intimate than the act of eating a meal. A common meal brings people together in a form of fellowship, welcome, and hospitality. A family gathering is more than a quick supper. A church pot-luck is more than lunch. Preparing and sharing a meal can be one of the most delightful and just plain “human” acts we can do. At its best, it is a sharing of self. That may be one of the things we’ve missed most during this pandemic.

·        For Jesus to say “eat my flesh… drink my blood”, we must be willing to be shocked and at the same time up-lifted by those words. He so much want to be part of our lives that he was (and is) willing to give his own body and blood for our lives. This is an on-going thing, just like the promise of eternal life. That life begins NOW, not after our passing to what’s beyond.

·        So eternity and the present are locked together. The physical and the spiritual are joined. Jesus uses understandable words to convey the truth of that which cannot be fully comprehended. Maybe it’s less important that we realize that we hold God in our hands when we realize that God holds us in God’s hands.

·        Once again, when the time comes, let’s eat hearty and drink fully of the one who would go so far to be part of the life of each and every one of us.

Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.