14 Pentecost/Year B Sermon/Aug 25, 2024 - Rev Julie Platson
Joshua 24:1-2a,14-18; Psalm 34:15-22; Ephesians 6:10-20; John 6:56-69
Opening Prayer:
God of Israel old and new, write in our hearts the lessons of your law; prepare our minds to receive the gospel made visible in your Son Jesus Christ. Amen.
The past five weeks, we have been journeying through a portion of the gospel of John, and listening to a series of Jesus’ teachings on bread, and his passion to help his listeners and followers come to believe that he is the One they’ve been waiting for, longing for, the true bread that can finally satisfy their deepest hungers for themselves and the community among them; the One they’ve been waiting for, longing for, who can finally satisfy their longing in their hearts for justice, for freedom, for mercy, for wisdom, for courage, for comfort in times of sorrow and grief, for healing, for wholeness, for new life, for belonging, for love…for the love of God, made visible to us in Jesus Christ.
Let me give you a re-cap on Jesus’ teachings from the gospel of John these past several weeks…
I think back to week one (John 6:1-21)…with the feeding of the five thousand with five barley loaves and 2 fish and his disciples questioning how it would be possible to feed so many with just 5 barley loaves and 2 fish…When Jesus took the loaves, and when he had given thanks, he distributed them to those who were seated; so also the fish, as much as they wanted. When they were satisfied, he told his disciples, “Gather up the fragments left over, so that nothing may be lost.” So they gathered them up, and from the fragments of the five barley loaves, left by those who had eaten, they filled twelve baskets. When the people saw the sign that he had done, they began to say, “This is indeed the prophet who is to come into the world.”
Week two (John 6:24-35): Jesus continues with these words, after the feeding of the five thousand...telling them that he IS the bread of life and whoever comes to believe in him will never be hungry or thirsty… “Our ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written, ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’” Then Jesus said to them, “Very truly, I tell you, it was not Moses who gave you the bread from heaven, but it is my Father who gives you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is that which comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” They said to him, “Sir, give us this bread always.”
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.”
Week three (John 6:35, 41-51): More doubts and questions arise for the Jewish leaders among them, questioning Jesus saying “I am the bread that came down from heaven.”… because they knew him as the son of Joseph and knew his mother, too… Jesus goes on to tell them in that gospel passage that week: “I am the bread of life. Your ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died. This is the bread that comes down from heaven, so that one may eat of it and not die. 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.”
Week four (John 6:51-58): Jesus’ teachings seem to become much more difficult to comprehend… the Jewish leaders were said to be disputing among themselves… “How can this man give us his flesh to eat?” So, Jesus attempts to unpack this question for 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. 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. Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood abide in me, and I in them. Just as the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so whoever eats me will live because of me.” Jesus makes it completely clear now, right?????
This brings us to today, on week 5 of the bread of life teaching (John 6:56-69)…in the synagogue in Capernaum. Jesus’ disciples say it plainly and probably speak for most of today too as we’ve listened to Jesus’ words today and the past few weeks… “This teaching is difficult; who can accept it? Jesus responds by asking them, Does this offend you? Then what if you were to see the Son of Man ascending to where he was before? He goes on to try and help them understand the difficult teachings through another lens of interpreting his words and coming to believe that he is the One that they have been longing for, waiting for…“It is the spirit that gives life; the flesh is useless. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life.
We heard in the conclusion of today’s gospel, that many of his disciples turned back and no longer went about with him. So, Jesus turns to the disciples still there and asks them… “Do you also wish to go away?” Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom can we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and know that you are the Holy One of God.”
As we come to the end of this five-week teaching series…where do you stand today? What have you come to believe? What are you still trying to make sense of in these gospel readings the past several weeks? Perhaps you are struggling with what to believe? About God, about Jesus, about what is possible when you can’t quite imagine that there truly is a way forward? Why not find someone to sit down with and process through these scripture passages further…together…
Are you in the midst of some difficult transitions or circumstances of your own? Or your loved ones? Trying to make sense of your own suffering or the widespread sufferings and injustices you are aware of in our community and worldwide? Why not find a friend in grief to sit down with to support one another.
When you close your eyes at night and when you anticipate the coming of a new day - What are you longing for? What are you hoping for? Why not meet up with someone to share your concerns…your longings and your hopes…
Will you turn away from what’s difficult…or will you turn once again to receive the gospel, the good news made visible to us in Jesus Christ, the Bread of Life, and allow His Words of spirit and life to satisfy your deepest hungers and longings in your heart…
Throughout our lifetime, we will all be faced with difficult circumstances and challenging transitions, unanswerable questions, longings that we don’t think could ever be satisfied.
Yet, this isn’t a solo journey we are on in life. We are meant to be in community and in relationship with one another.
With Jesus, the bread of life, at the center of all our prayers, our gatherings with one another, we can be nourished, fed, comforted, uplifted, and encouraged to keep on striving to love one another and care for one another in such a way…that we truly come to believe and understand that we are not alone…our prayers are heard…and all of our deep hungers and longings in our hearts can be satisfied, through the love of God, made visible to us in Jesus Christ, and by the power and inspiration of the Holy Spirit that unites us together in this lifetime, and for eternity.
Today, and every morning anew, we are invited to make a choice. Will we choose to turn away from all the difficulties that threaten to overcome us? Or will we lean into them and choose hope, by turning again and again, to walk with Jesus in the way of love that nourishes us with the true bread of life that can satisfy our deepest hungers and longings in our hearts. May it be so.
Closing Prayer/Hymn: There is a longing in our hearts, O Lord
There is a longing in our hearts, O Lord,
for you to reveal yourself to us.
There is a longing in our hearts for love
we only find in you, our God.
1 For justice, for freedom,
for mercy: hear our prayer.
In sorrow, in grief:
be near, hear our prayer, O God. Refrain
2 For wisdom, for courage,
for comfort: hear our prayer.
In weakness, in fear:
be near, hear our prayer, O God. Refrain
3 For healing, for wholeness,
for new life: hear our prayer.
In sickness, in death:
be near, hear our prayer, O God. Refrain
4 Lord save us, take pity,
light in our darkness.
We call you, we wait:
be near, hear our prayer, O God. Refrain