Pentecost 12

Sunday, August 19, 2012
Lectionary 20
Proper 15
Twelfth Sunday after Pentecost

Midweek Musings

Reflection By Judy Lazenby

INTRODUCTION
Wisdom prepares a feast, sets her table, and invites all to come and eat her bread and drink her wine. The first chapter of John's gospel owes much to the biblical tradition that imagined Wisdom as existing before anything was created and having a role in the work of creation. Christ, the wisdom of God (1 Cor. 1:24), today invites us to eat his flesh and drink his blood. John's gospel includes no account of the institution of the Lord's supper, but here we can't help hearing Jesus' words as an invitation to the meal of bread and wine we share.

Prayer of the Day (ELW)

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.

First Reading

Proverbs 9:1–6

Wisdom is portrayed as a woman who invites people to partake of her banquet. Just as ordinary food is necessary for physical life, Wisdom’s food—insight and understanding—is necessary for fullness of life with God. Partaking of Wisdom’s banquet is the way to life.

Wisdom has built her house,
she has hewn her seven pillars.
²She has slaughtered her animals, she has mixed her wine,
she has also set her table.
³She has sent out her servant-girls, she calls
from the highest places in the town,
⁴"You that are simple, turn in here!"
To those without sense she says,
⁵"Come, eat of my bread
and drink of the wine I have mixed.
⁶Lay aside immaturity, and live,
and walk in the way of insight."

Psalm (ELW)

Psalm 34:9–14

Those who seek the LORD lack nothing that is good. (Ps. 34:10)

⁹Fear the LORD, you saints ^| of the LORD,

for those who fear the ^| LORD lack nothing.

¹⁰The lions are in want and ^| suffer hunger,

but those who seek the LORD lack nothing ^| that is good. R

¹¹Come, children, and lis- ^| ten to me;

I will teach you reverence ^| for the LORD.

¹²Who among you takes plea- ^| sure in life

and desires long life to en- ^| joy prosperity?

¹³Keep your ^| tongue from evil

and your lips from ^| lying words.

¹⁴Turn from evil ^| and do good;

seek peace ^| and pursue it. R

Second Reading

Ephesians 5:15–20

True wisdom integrates our new reality in Christ with our Christian fellowship and daily conduct. Because we are filled with the Spirit, Christians regularly rejoice together, give thanks to God for one another, and care for one another. In this way we revere our Lord Jesus Christ.

¹⁵Be careful then how you live, not as unwise people but as wise, ¹⁶making the most of the time, because the days are evil. ¹⁷So do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. ¹⁸Do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery; but be filled with the Spirit, ¹⁹as you sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves, singing and making melody to the Lord in your hearts, ²⁰giving thanks to God the Father at all times and for everything in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Gospel

John 6:51–58

In John’s gospel, the feeding of the five thousand leads to extended teaching in which Jesus identifies himself as the true “bread of life.” Finally, in these verses, he makes a connection that would not be understood until after his death, in light of the church’s celebration of holy communion.

⁵¹I 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."
⁵²The Jews then disputed among themselves, saying, "How can this man give us his flesh to eat?" ⁵³So 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. ⁵⁴Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood have eternal life, and I will raise them up on the last day; ⁵⁵for my flesh is true food and my blood is true drink. ⁵⁶Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood abide in me, and I in them. ⁵⁷Just as the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so whoever eats me will live because of me. ⁵⁸This 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."

Reflections

Are we getting the message yet about Jesus being the Bread of Life? Just as Jesus teaches the disciples over and over, we too need to hear the message repeatedly as well. In this passage we hear that this heavenly food is not like the bread we eat and yet still die, but bread and wine that feeds us eternally. This analogy is very basic and clear, unlike many that Jesus used in his teachings. If we are one with Jesus and take Him into ourselves, just as we do any food, let Him become part of us, we will have eternal life. Truly a gift of grace!

Quote

With bread and wine you can walk your road. Spanish Proverb

Prayers

We pray for:

…the hungry

…the lonely

…the unprotected

…the sick and dying