READ SCRIPTURE (John 6:51-58)
[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."
The Judeans then disputed among themselves, saying, "How can this man give us his flesh to eat?" So 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. 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. This 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."
REFLECT ON THE READING
Because the days are evil, the Letter to the Ephesians urges us to be wise, not foolish, not drunk in our fear of death. In Proverbs, Wisdom herself—the very word by which God made the universe with its seven pillars, its seven visible planets—calls us to lay aside our immaturity and live with the insight that accords with the deep structure of all things. But where is that wisdom? Can it really be eaten and drunk as at a banquet? For John’s Gospel, the Word though which all things came into being has become flesh in Jesus Christ. He has died with us. He lives with us. And he gives his very existence to us—his flesh and blood—in his word and in his meal in the church. Wisdom’s banquet is there, in word and sacrament. Then living in maturity and wisdom, in accord with the universe—truly living—looks like this: singing together in the Spirit; giving thanks to the Father always for all things through Jesus Christ; and, in the Spirit of that thanksgiving, turning with compassion and forgiveness toward our neighbor and in diligent care toward the earth itself.
PRAY
Ever-loving God, your Son gives himself as living bread for the life of the world. Fill us with such a 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.
For additional readings and prayers visit ELCA’s Worship in the Home Blog