August 22, 2021 - 13 Pentecost
Reflection by the Rev. Deacon Kathryn Snelling
To open, I’m going to borrow words from one of our collects
Blessed God, grant us so to hear, read, mark, learn and inwardly digest your Holy Word, that we may embrace the blessed hope of everlasting life which you have given through our savior, Jesus Christ, Amen.
Today’s reading brings us to the end of chapter six of the Gospel according to John that we’ve been reading through for these last five Sundays. Our Bread of Life series.
And I want to start with a brief re-cap of what we’ve read and heard.
It began when Jesus has gone up a mountain with his disciples and sees a large crowd that has followed them. And he asks “Where will we get enough bread for all these hungry people?” And then we hear how first he tells the people to sit down. Then he takes the five barley loaves (and a couple of fish) that have been found and, blesses them, breaks them and everyone, about five thousand people, eat their fill.
And there is food left over.
And the people are rightfully amazed. When Jesus realizes that they want to take him by force and make him king, he slips away further up the mountain.
And then he rejoins the disciples later during the night as they cross the sea in their boat heading for Capernaum.
But once in Capernaum it isn’t long before the crowds, who have crossed over themselves looking for him, find him and want to know how he got there.
But Jesus, knowing what they are looking for, more food, tells them to not work for food that perishes but for food that endures for eternal life. And they ask what they must do to perform the work of God. And his answer is –your work is to believe in the one whom God has sent. But they ask for more signs – “What will you perform for us?” And they talk about Moses, and the bread he gave their ancestors in the wilderness. Which they had named “manna”.
Jesus says – yes – but it wasn’t Moses who sent the manna. It was God who rained down the bread from heaven. And that manna perished and those who ate it perished.
I am the living Bread that came down from heaven.
At this some of the people were taken aback – saying how can he say he came down from heaven? We know his father Joseph and his mother. What is this talk?
But Jesus doesn’t stop there – he says again,
I am the living bread that came down from heaven
And the bread that I give for the life of the world --- is my flesh
Furthermore he says, unless you eat my flesh and drink my blood you have no life in you.
And I ask us to pause this morning and to try to hear these words as those who heard them for the first time there in Capernaum.
Without two thousand plus years of theological reflection.
Startling language. Shocking! And I think Jesus meant it to be so. He knows his time is short – we are told at the beginning of the chapter that the Passover was near. Jesus knows what is coming – for him and his disciples.
So he’s pulling no punches now.
“Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood -- abide in me and I in them. Just as I live because of God, so those who eat me will live because of me”.
Jesus knows that many are offended by what he is saying and he adds “The words I have spoken are spirit and life”
But now, many of the disciples who were following Jesus, shake their head and say – this is too difficult to accept. And they turn back and go. And no longer want to associate with him.
And Jesus turns to the twelve and gives them a chance to go. “Do you also wish to away?”
I can visualize the twelve all looking at each other --and then it is Simon Peter who speaks for them.
“To whom can we go? We have come to believe and know that you are the Hoy One of God.
Yet, even after saying these words, in the end, we know, that Simon Peter and all the rest did leave him. And one betrayed him.
Jesus knows – and doesn’t judge them – but accepts them where they are and moves forward.
It took the resurrection and experiences, and reflection and living and learning to truly and deeply come to believe and know
And I think it’s significant that John chooses to record Jesus’ blunt, offensive sounding words.
I think it is where all come eventually – a crossroads, so to speak, in following Jesus. Do we turn away – or turn to Jesus?
So how do we hear these words today?
How do we “Taste and See”? How do we abide in him and him in us?
Well. Throughout this month we’ve heard some wonderful reflections on just that.
We heard in Julie’s reflections of the need to sit with Jesus – make the time in our busy, daily lives to be fed and nourished and learn from his life and teaching --- and know that amazing things are possible.
Even the simply amazing thing of getting through another busy day.
She spoke to our need to always turn and re-turn to Jesus. Making use of all the ways available to us; reading and meditating on God’s word, spending time in prayer, time in silence, time in listening and listening to sacred music – whatever spiritual discipline you choose for yourself and what works for you. And those habits can be hard to maintain. But Jesus doesn’t judge, just waits, always there.
And from Kit we heard the importance and connection of bread throughout history – in her personal history and that of the world. The importance of bread as a staple of life. A perfect metaphor for Jesus.
And she gave us the beautiful image of the Holy Eucharist being connected through the ages to the very hands of Jesus.
And both Julie and Kit spoke of the Eucharist – the Lord’s Supper -- established as a gift -- for spiritual nourishment and that always points to the true source of life, God the Creator.
So what could I possibly add this morning? – A hardy Amen for starters.
And then I’d like us to focus on what Jesus said near the end;
“The words I have spoken to you are spirit and life.”
And I pondered a while on that connection. Flesh and blood – spirit and life
We know Jesus as flesh and blood – as we are flesh and blood. And after his resurrection and ascension, he charged his disciples to be his physical presence in the world. To bring His saving life to the world through our lives and actions as we follow his way of love. True spirit – one with his-- and true life -- that is eternal
On the second Sunday of each month we provide the Manna Meal lunches. And Kit mentioned this her in reflection.
And I would add that the many hands that touch the lunches - through monitory donations or donations of supplies - the physical making of the sandwiches and of the soup and the handing the bags to the people, are tangible ways of being Jesus’s presence.
There is more than soup and sandwiches and homemade cookies and other sweets and beverages
Which are all very viable in themselves
But there is much more than material food going out with those sack lunches – we are also handing out spirit and life.
And those who receive the lunches perceive this, for occasionally one will beat me to saying “God Bless You!”
So this morning I say to you – God Bless You!
Amen