Proper 14 Yr B
Touch of an angel

For families: Study guide and activities (another guide), group activity, snacks, kid video

For children: See family guide/activities (other activities—one and two); bulletin; craft;

For middlers: See family guide/activities (other activities—one and two); bulletin; craft.

For youth: Read the lesson from Ephesians for today. This is pretty clear about how we should behave. Don't lie! (check) Don't let your anger control you. (check) Don't steal. (check) Share what you have. (check) Let the words from your lips build up rather than tear down. (check) Do not grieve the Holy Spirit (that means, don't do things to disappoint God). (check) Be kind to one another; be tenderhearted; forgive each other. (check, check, check) Maybe I need to review the list for myself but it's really quite simple. As the recently-retired Presiding Bishop Curry preaches, "Love is the Way." How about you? Share your answer here.

One last thing . . . Since it's still summer and it's still hot and school is still just around the corner, let's continue to celebrate with some ice cream. Go to your favorite ice cream shoppe or buy some ice cream at the grocery store and enjoy for each week left in the summer. This week, I'm going for praline pecan ice cream. How about you? Tell me here.

We continue to hear Jesus’ discourse on the bread of life today. Continuing last week’s theme of Jesus himself as the source of nourishment for our new life in him, a further level of meaning is introduced. This was astounding to Jesus’ hearers (and would be to us if we were not already so used to it), for he is not simply speaking of a “spiritual” communion with him. He is speaking of his own flesh, his own life. He is the food of eternal life.

Using II Samuel: As the prophet Nathan foretold after David’s adultery with Bathsheba, his family falls apart. A son of David rapes his own sister, setting the brothers at each other’s throats. Then David’s son, Absalom, starts a rebellion against his father and almost wins. David still loves the young man and orders that his life be spared. His generals, however, kill Absalom. David grieves the death of his son and the great kingdom is never the same again.

Using I Kings: The first reading tells of Elijah the prophet fleeing through the wilderness. He is starving and begs God to let him die. But God instead provides food for him in the wilderness and Elijah is able to complete his pilgrimage to the mount of God.

Today’s reading from the Letter to the Ephesians continues from last week’s discussion of our unity in the Spirit, to the new way of living which is the result of that unity, and to its deepest and most profound implication: namely, our new life is one identity, both as individuals and as a people, with Jesus himself. What he is, we are becoming.

In the Eucharist we take the material things of this world and, in giving thanks over them, we offer them to be taken up into the life of God. And this is true also of our selves who are represented by the bread and wine. We are part of a people whose story goes back to the ancient Hebrews: a people who have at the center of our existence God calling us to be bearers of the divine presence in the world.