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. . . As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord . . . Joshua 25:15b
Proper 13 Yr B
Introduction
Introduction
How does one "grow in Christ"? To help us know "how", let's examine the growth of a child. As a newborn, food is mighty important, yet we have learned that surrounding a newborn with love and comfort is invaluable to that newborn's growth. As a toddler, a child still needs food but also needs direction and guidance to continue its growth; in essence, the toddler needs to experience life. And it continues to require love and comfort, just like the newborn did. You can reflect on the other stages of a person's growth—a child beyond toddler, a "middler" or a child close to teenage, a teenager, a young adult, and on and on. We should be growing our whole lives long. And for all of that, we need love and comfort.
Jesus says, this week, "I am the bread of life." He follows that with what it means—will not be hungry, will not be thirsty. For me, it takes a great faith to rely on those statements. They mean trusting that God will provide; I have trouble with that. Yet, trusting that "God will provide" doesn't mean that all I do is wait on my couch, does it? For me, it means God has given me the wherewithal to fill my hunger and quench my thirst for life. It also means that physical bread and drink are not the only ways to life. What do these statements mean for you?
Rest assured, friends, that when I say these things I realize how blessed and "privileged" I am to be able to work to "fill my hunger" and "quench my thirst." I fully recognize that many in the world do not have these opportunities. Indeed, I am blessed. Comment here.
John 6:24-35
John 6:24-35
. . . 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.”
From sermon4kids.com: “Some people today are looking for a sign from God to show them that Jesus is the real thing. In God’s word, he has given us the only sign we need. He has given Jesus his seal of approval. He said, “This is my Son.” So, there is no doubt that Jesus is the real thing!”
Scripture: August 4, 2024 (Proper 13)—2 Samuel 11:26–12:13a (image); Psalm 51:1–12 (image); Exodus 16:2-4, 9-15 (image); Psalm 78:23-29 (image); Ephesians 4:1–16 (image); and John 6:24–35 (image). A video/audio journey through the scripture.
Collect: Let your continual mercy, O Lord, cleanse and defend your Church; and, because it cannot continue in safety without your help, protect and govern it always by your goodness; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Reflection: In what specific situation is God calling you to exercise humility, gentleness, patience, forbearance, and love?
(excerpted from Feasting on the Word Worship Companion: Liturgies for Year B, Volume 2 © 2014 Westminster John Knox Press)
Symbols of the Church
Symbols of the Church
The Tree of Life is often representative of the tree in the Garden of Eden, mentioned throughout Genesis and Revelations. It is most commonly known as a symbol of eternal life, healing and growth.
Excerpted from "Symbols of Faith" by James Emery.
Click here for a page of symbols described in this publication.
Images enhancing
the scripture
“Feeding the 5000” by Ian Pollock
“I am the bread of life” by Jesus Mafa
"I am that bread of life" from BibleArt
Music founded
in the scripture
“One Lord” by Lorie True
“One faith, one hope, one Lord” by Craig Courtney
“Christ has no body now but yours” by David Ogden [a beautiful piece]
"I am the bread of life", a joyful presentation by the Notre Dame University Folk Choir
Other voices
about the scripture
“I am the bread of life” by Bosco Peters
“Hit me” by Rick Morley
Beloved, what do you work for? What do you seek?
What do you put yourself out for,
expend effort, trade other things for?
Does it give you life? Does it last?
Does it lead you to deeper life, life in me?
Those little bits of power and control,
they’re not all that filling, are they?
That safety and security, not having to think,
doesn’t really taste all that good, does it?
The esteem, the little confining place of belonging—
it’s junk food, isn’t it? Take and eat.
Better than earned or stolen,
than made or found,
the food that is given tastes best of all.
Feast on this, offered in love.
Open the mouth of your heart, child,
and nurse at the breast of this moment,
to the deep nourishment here in this air,
what feeds and fills and strengthens you.
Nurse from my breast,
take in my divine self for food,
let the Bread that is this life become you.
Drink deeply of me. You are what you eat.
©Steve Garnaas-Holmes
Movies representing some part of the scripture
“Smoke signals” (1998, PG-13), intersection between “life on the rez” and the white community, Review
“Eat drink man woman” (1994, not rated), interweaving of the motifs of food and the search for love, Review
For families: Study guide and activities (another guide), group activity, snacks, kid video
For children: See family guide/activities (another activity); bulletin; craft;
For middlers: See family guide/activities (another activity); bulletin; craft
For youth: In the SOLI discussion on today's topic, the author writes: "Think about it: For what do you really hunger? What would slake your soul’s incredible thirst and longing? Can you name it? Will you claim it? Can you at least acknowledge that gnawing hole at the center of your being that longs to be filled with God?" These are all good questions when we are considering the Bread of Life that is Jesus. We know that God provides all if we will but seek. Comments? Post on the Facebook page or send here.
One last thing . . . Since it's August and it's hot and school is just around the corner, let's celebrate with some ice cream. Go to your favorite ice cream shoppe or buy some ice cream at the grocery story and enjoy for each week in August. This week, I'm going for java chunk ice cream. How about you? Tell me here.
Today we hear the response of the crowd after Jesus had fed the 5,000 people with five loaves and two fish. Then we hear the first part of the discourse from the Gospel of John on Jesus as the bread of life. Starting with bread as a material object and earthly food, Jesus then leads his hearers to an understanding of communion or fellowship with him as food for our spiritual nature. It is that spiritual nourishment which gives eternal life.
Using II Samuel: Last Sunday we heard the story of David’s adultery with Bathsheba and his murder of her husband. The prophet Nathan comes and, in a parable about a rich man stealing a poor man’s only lamb, induces David to confess. David repents, but the damage is done. His household will be in turmoil from that time forward. Sin can be forgiven, but its damage continues to work through those around the sinner.
Using Exodus: The Old Testament reading is the account of God feeding the people during the Exodus wanderings with manna, described as bread from heaven. A continuing theme throughout the Old Testament is God’s provision of food for the people, a provision that is a sign of God’s salvation.
In today’s reading from Ephesians, one of the Pauline tradition’s strongest themes is introduced. We are in unity with God and with all people through our baptism. Baptism has joined us together into one life as the body of Christ—the same body which we receive in Holy Communion.
The Christian Gospel takes as its basis the nature of human life in this world and sees our life as being shot through with signs of the fuller life that is ours in Christ. Ours is not a religion of the spirit alone, nor is it solely a means of dealing with material life in this world. As bread and wine are revealed in the liturgy to be instruments of God’s presence in us, so all of life is revealed as the sacrament of God in the world; we remember that we are (in the words of St. Augustine) “. . . means of grace and vehicles of the eternal charity.”
From The Rite Light: Reflections on the Sunday Readings and Seasons of the Church Year. Copyright © 2007 by Michael W. Merriman. Church Publishing Incorporated, New York.
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