Circling with John into the Bread of Life

Bonnie's sermon can be listened to here

For the last five Sundays we have circled around Jesus “the bread of life”. It began on Passover with Jesus feeding the 5000 in an outrageous act of uncalled for generosity. This whole section is set at Passover – the foundational celebration of God’s liberation of these once slaves – with the hope of liberation from the current oppressors; and of Moses’ role as their first great prophet, the law giver.

We have slowly walked from there to this week’s reading, circling around and reworking this story of feeding so many and God’s feeding mana in the desert. It culminates with “I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. And the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh.”(vs 51) and that is just way too weird for a lot of those who had been following him enough to be called disciples. And most drift off back home, to their lives of longing and ???

Following Jesus can be hard work. Ask those first readers of John’s gospel. Persecutions, martyrdoms, ostracism. None of that was on the plan. They are wavering. Is this Jesus really worth all the bother? Too many had walked away and the future looked bleak. John is writing his gospel for those who have stayed but who wonder. This is a gospel of hope and encouragement. Jesus is the one in whom they should trust and shape their lives around. To know, to believe is to trust. Jesus is the bread that we are to gnaw at and shape our lives around. Jesus is the one who shows us our deepest longings and in an outrageous act of uncalled for generosity liberates us from all that enslaves us today.
“Where else shall we go? In Jesus we have the words of eternal life, and we have believed, and have come to know, that he is the Holy One of God.” (vs 68 and 69).

Karoline Lewis[1] reminds us that this whole episode ends at verse 71 with the promise of betrayal. John leaves us in a space of confidence and doubt, faith and abandonment. She suggests this is the place of discipleship. She makes some great points.

I am not preaching this week so this is my only input on this weeks readings.


[1] https://www.workingpreacher.org/craft.aspx?post=5211

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Simply Sent

Image
  Gate Pa –   11 th Sunday in Ordinary Time- Year A -2023 Readings: Psalm -                      Psalm 116:9-17                         First Reading -         Genesis 18:1-15         Second Reading -      Romans 5:1-8             Gospel   -                   Matthew 9:35-10:23                      What I want to say: I want to talk about some of the themes from Phoenix Then explore the importance of Matthew 10:5-8 for Franciscans and in light of that what is living simply   What I want to happen: We are today's “sent ones”/apostles. wonder what Jesus instructions offer us in our understanding of living the gospel?   The Sermon      1.     Introduction: Some of you know I was in Phoenix at TSSF Convocation -         Why I missed two Sundays Hot – top temp each day was between 36 -40 – but very dry heat + David Rice – bishop who appointed me to be your vicar was there as Bishop Protector -         Great to spend time with him -         Took op
Read more

Youth Camp

I went on a youth camp over new years. ( This bit is new) It was overall a good camp. The young people who organised it did a really good job, and I had a good time all in all. While I will go on to question one of the speakers in particular, mostly the others were good. One used Nooma dvd's and another retold bible stories to great affect. But I want to make some comments about it that arise not only out of this event but also other events I have been on. They are observations of what we offer young people which arise out of the question, is what we offer young people at such events the best we can do? Original posting continues... I have to say the music wears me down. It is all about Jesus and me, hardly ever us. And when how to stay on the Christian journey is talked about it is in terms of my devotional life, and never about our life as a church, and even being part of a community. It is very individualistic, and is so deeply deeply flawed. And it is so not Anglican!!! Anglica
Read more

The Way

Image
Here we are in the fifth Sunday of Easter, and we no longer get rousing stories of Jesus resurrection. Instead, we are listening to part of Jesus’ final pep talk to the disciples as they and he prepare for the horrors that lies ahead. And we hear of Stephen being stoned. It somehow seems wrong. And it is also more real. The season of Easter is a time to pay attention to how the risen Christ is among us now and active in our world today. How do our readings help us in this work? There is a lot of confusion in both John and Acts. The disciples are confused by what Jesus is talking about. They are afraid and want straightforward answers. Where is Jesus going and how can they follow? What is the way? And Jesus does not give straightforward answers. And yet so often we read this as if he is. Believe certain things about Jesus and you get into heaven. “Way” can be read in many ways, not just route. Another reading is that Jesus is talking about the way of life he has lived, a way of life t
Read more