Sunday, August 25th, 2024 - Proper 16
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.” John 6:56-69
The harsh truth turns many people away. We humans often want things the old way, often looking back to our childhood when everything was rosy. We could not see the challenges and the hardship our parents and grandparents suffered. We aren't willing to imagine the tests of their faith but want to believe they had it easy. They did not, they could not if they were facing the truth and living in the world. My father served in three wars, and my mother was sent alone from Oklahoma and her family at age twelve. Their faith was firm, grounded and tested and their joy was evident. May we all respond in our hard times, "to whom can we go?" May we trust that Jesus has the words of eternal life in all times and all of our struggles.
A Litany for Sunday August 25th
Nurturing Creator, you feed us and fill us
you find us safe roads and welcoming places
when we wander you bring us back home
and you gather us in your warm loving arms.
Stay with us Lord Jesus for you have the words of eternal life.
Too often we want to remain as small children
facing nothing that hard, no truth that stings
we do not want to serve but be the served
and forget that you are always serving with us.
Stay with us Lord Jesus for you have the words of eternal life.
Storms of life and important choices face us all
we want to be cosseted but you make us strong
though the earth shakes, and the waters rise
you will be our strength and our daily bread.
Stay with us Lord Jesus for you have the words of eternal life.
Keep us from looking back with nostalgia
and ground us in your truth and love.
Stay with us Lord Jesus for you have the words of eternal life.
We are often feeble and easily mislead
and you are life and give us life abundant.
Stay with us Lord Jesus for you have the words of eternal life.
Turn our weary hearts from all our worries
and let us always rest completely in your love.
Stay with us Lord Jesus for you have the words of eternal life. Amen.
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