READ SCRIPTURE (John 6:56-69)
[Jesus said,] “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.” He said these things while he was teaching in the synagogue at Capernaum.
When many of his disciples heard it, they said, “This teaching is difficult; who can accept it?” But Jesus, being aware that his disciples were complaining about it, said to them, “Does this offend you? Then what if you were to see the Son-of-Man ascending to where he was before? It is the spirit that gives life; the flesh is useless. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life. But 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. And he said, “For this reason I have told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted by the Father.”
Because of this many of his disciples turned back and no longer went about with him. So Jesus asked the twelve, “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.”
REFLECT ON THE READING
For the past four Sundays we have heard from the lectionary that Jesus truly gives himself to us and that he does so like multiplied loaves, like bread in the wilderness where we thought bread could not be, like food that enables us to see God, and like wisdom’s feast healing our foolishness. On this Sunday we read once more from the Bread of Life chapter of John’s Gospel. Only now we are called not to turn away from this gift, however offensive Jesus’ language may seem, however difficult it is to believe that his death for us is food and drink, his flesh and blood the way he abides in us, his word life-giving bread. The form of Peter’s confession in this Fourth Gospel is here: Jesus Christ has the words of eternal life. We join with Joshua and with Peter to cleave to this life, not letting it go. By the gift of the Spirit we are clothed with it: truth, righteousness, faith, the promise of salvation, and the very word of God all become “armor” for us as we engage in a strange sort of battle: stopping evil, doing whatever enables us to proclaim peace for our world, and persevering in prayer for all of God’s people. Christ feeds us. The Spirit outfits us. God holds and sends us. So each of us and the whole assembly are gathered into the Trinity.
PRAY
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.
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