Glory and Service

God is great.

God is wonderful.

Creation is amazing.

This Psalm that we read together earlier, is one where the people are remembering the greatness of God. It’s a beautiful psalm.

These words are easy for us to say and to hear.

Phrases of praise, words proclaiming God’s greatness.

After the hard readings of Mark the last few weeks, the Psalm takes us to a completely different place.

There are times in our lives when all we want to do

is sing God’s praises,

remember God’s faithfulness and

rest in the glory of God.

Some places that we have lived, I had a special place where I would go when I wanted to do deep thinking, when I had something that I needed to mull over with God.

Those of you who have done any kind of meditation will probably have a special place you can go to without having to physically be there.

We all need those places,

we all need times

when we can be aware of the glory and majesty of God;

when we can be aware of the beauty of creation;

when we remember God’s presence throughout the ages.

But just as Moses came down from the mountain top, his face aglow;

just as Jesus and the disciples came down from the mountain top after the Transfiguration;

we cannot stay in those places where we bask in the glory and presence of God.

We come back to life

life in its gritty fullness

the ups and downs of daily living

the decisions

the hard places

the people we find difficult

the pain

the emptiness

The world is a beautiful place,

but just as there is beauty in the world,

there is also pain and violence.

And so we come back to the gospel of Mark,

and another of those difficult questions.

This one might not be quite so difficult to answer.

James and John wanted the best seats in the house.

Jesus has once again told the disciples,

for the third time,

that in Jerusalem he will be killed.

And James and John want to know if they can be on the left and right of Jesus in glory.

James and John still don’t get it.

The kingdom that Jesus is talking about is very different to the Roman kingdom.

Notice who gets to sit near the Prime Minister, or the leader of the opposition, in parliament.

Who gets to sit at the main table at a work function?

James and John wanted to be those closest to Jesus when he was in power, they want to be the deputies.

Jesus tells them that they don’t know what they are really asking.

The disciples are again reminded that the kingdom of God is not like the earthly kingdoms. Again we hear that the one who is greatest is the one who serves.

James and John ask if they can be at the right and left when Jesus is in glory.

I wonder when we see glory of Jesus.

Is it when he is on the cross, with two thieves - one either side?

Is it in the empty tomb?

Is it in the healing of the blind and the lame?

Or the acceptance of the woman at the well?

When the Gospels talk about the kingdom of God,

they are talking about the kingdom where love reigns,

the kingdom where all are welcomed,

a kingdom of peace and harmony,

the kingdom where all are respected.

A kingdom where service is a sign of greatness.

Being Christian, being people of God,

there are times when we are aware of the glory of God.

There are times when we look at the world around us and see the beauty of creation.

Yet what we hear from Jesus, is that the kingdom of God is not a magical place where light floods through us.

The kingdom of God is not an endless summer holiday.

The kingdom of God is a place of service.

Yesterday at a meeting I heard about an amazing ministry that the Uniting Church offers. I am guessing that many of you have heard of some of the traditional schools that come under the uniting church umbrella. Schools such as Knox, MLC, Newington and Ravenswood. There is a school in Newcastle that works with the most disadvantaged young people in our society. Many come from families that are dysfunctional.

To be considered for enrolment, the young person must be unable to continue mainstream schooling based on challenging behaviours and or educational disadvantage due to life circumstance.

The majority of students enrolled have mental health diagnosis.

Each child has a caseworker as well as teachers, breakfast and lunch are provided. These young people are treated as wonderful human beings, where most people see them as difficult, uncontrollable, a waste of space.

Yet we heard some amazing stories of transformation in the lives of young people when they are treated as individuals, called by name, given the support and resourcing that they need. Stories of people going back to mainstream schooling to complete their higher School certificate. Stories of young people who have been through the program, who are now in employment, married, raising children.

The glory of God, I believe, is seen in the transformation that comes when people glimpse the kingdom of God through
the hospitality
the love
the service
of faithful people.

God is great.God is wonderful.Creation is amazing.

The glory of God is seen in all the earth.

The glory of God is seen in lives transformed.

As much to rest in the light and awe of God

we also need to be following in the example of Jesus

in offering healing, hope, grace and love

to a broken and hurting world.

Where are you aware of the glory of God?

Where are you being an agent of hope and healing? 

inheriting eternal life

Another week, another question.

Three weeks ago, Jesus asked the disciples what they had been arguing about. And we heard how greatness comes from serving.

Last week it was the Pharisees asking Jesus ‘is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?’

When the Pharisees asked Jesus about divorce, they were not interested in the answer, but were wanting to test or trap him. Jesus talked about looking after the least, and the importance of relationships.

This week a man asks Jesus: what must I do to inherit eternal life?

This week, the young man is not setting a trap. This young man has done everything asked of him by society, he has kept the religious laws, he is wealthy, what more could he do.

I sensed a call to ordained ministry in 1986, a long time before I went to college and started the training. There were a number of reasons it took so long, partly it was me thinking I wouldn't be able to cope with being in ministry; but there was also the sense of what more do you want from me God. I was a lay preacher, I was an elder, a member of Presbytery, on regional and state committees, did hospital visiting – really – what more do you want!

But, every so often, the call would come back strongly, and the ordination question would be in my head again. And in the end I knew there was more being asked of me, well not really more, just God was leading me in a different direction.

No matter how successful we look to people, no matter how many rules we obey, no matter how many years we attend worship or cook for cake stalls; there can still be that yearning for a closer relationship with God.

This young man felt that there was something missing in his life, that uneasiness within, looking for something that money can’t buy, something that keeping rules couldn't give him.

I used to like the certainty of rules, I knew at home, and school, that if I kept the rules I wouldn't get into trouble; as an adult what I know is that keeping the rules won’t get me into trouble, but rules are not where life comes from.

The life that the young man was seeking, comes from relationship with God and with God’s creation, not with keeping rules. And when we are in relationship with God, when we follow Gods guidance, keeping the rules – of love, respect for people and property become part of the way we live, rather than for the sake of keeping the rules.

One of the difficulties people have with this reading, is that Jesus says how hard it is for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of heaven. Now I am guessing if I asked you, most of you would tell me you are not wealthy.  I googled income comparison, and the one site I found that took into account the country you lived in, $50, 000 after tax; that is $1,000 take home each week; puts you in the top 1% world-wide.

The question he asked was: what must I do to inherit eternal life?

Not what must I do to earn, or gain, or buy eternal life; but - what must I do to inherit eternal life?

Jesus is on the road to Jerusalem. He has told the disciples twice now that he will be killed. And the disciples still don’t get that.

What must I do to inherit eternal life? –  

Well ……. any inheritance means someone has died.

And inheritance goes to …..  family.

So the question: what must I do to inherit eternal life?

Maybe is really… how do I become part of Gods family?

Which we hear is almost impossible for the wealthy, but not for God.

Maybe when Jesus tells him to sell his possessions and give them to the poor, he is releasing the man from that which possesses him. What is it that keeps you separated from God and from people? What do you have to offer people who are lonely, poor, treated unjustly?

Earlier I told you the story of the mixed-up chameleon. The chameleon got confused because he wanted to be like other animals, and not a chameleon.  Yet when he was trying to be all the other animals, he couldn't get the food he needed to survive.

Sometimes it is easy to aim to be like other people, wealthy, famous, clever, good looking, a good surfer, …..

It is easy to forget that we are named and claimed by God.

In Baptism we are reminded that we are loved by God, that we are part of Gods family. We are heirs, inheritors, by God’s grace and the life, death and resurrection of Jesus.  

When we respond to Gods invitation, when we inherit eternal life, we are also challenged to seek the welfare of all people, and all of creation.

Where is God inviting you into closer relationship?

What is God challenging you to let go off? 

Embracing the Kingdom

Is it lawful? That is what the Pharisees asked Jesus. Is it lawful?

It sounds like children asking, “Is it really true?” Or “did you really say that?”   Often when we ask those questions, we already know the answer, but are testing the boundaries, seeing if there is any wriggle room. The Pharisees are testing Jesus, they are not really interested in an answer, but in setting a trap.

The thing with the question is the Pharisees weren't really wanting an answer the Pharisees set out to test Jesus, because no matter what answer he gave it would be contentious.

What we call the Old Testament has a number of different sections in. The first five books are ‘Torah’ for Jewish people, it’s like the books of law. The various religious teachers had their own way of interpreting the law and the way it related to everyday life.

So the Pharisees set out to test Jesus, is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?

The people asking this question already knew what the Torah said, that a man is allowed to divorce his wife. But just as today there are people who will argue points of law on points of law, and what various words mean in various contexts, the interpretation of the Law of Moses was quite varied. So even though the Pharisees ask “is it lawful”, they already know what is in the law. The interpretation of this law varied from divorce is only allowed in cases of infidelity, to the other extreme of - if your wife is your dinner or displeases you in some way you can divorce her.

Notice only the man can divorce the woman. In Jesus response, he does say if she divorces her husband, this was permissible in Roman law, but not in Jewish law.

In his response to the question, Jesus talks about marriage and the importance of marriage, but he also says that if a man divorces his wife and marries another woman he commits adultery against his wife. The understanding at this time was that he was dishonouring her family, her father in particular, Jesus accords the woman honour.

Something about marriage: marriage at this time was not a result of courtship, romance, flowers, dancing, movies and meals; marriages were arranged between families, marriage was about property, honour and status. Therefore divorce was quite complicated. Today divorce is also quite complicated, though for different reasons.

What did it mean for a couple to divorce? For the woman, her life is turned upside down. This was a society where women needed to have a male to stand up for them; a father, a husband, a son. When a man divorced his wife, if father or brother was unwilling to take her in “the consequences for the woman were devastating -- familial and public disgrace, potentially severe economic hardship, and limited future prospects for her and her children. So Jesus' words were likely intended not to set up a standard by which to judge and stigmatize but rather to protect women who were so much more vulnerable before the law then men.”  [Love and Marriage Monday, October 01, 2012 David Lose ]

These days our questions are quite different, I can’t remember ever being asked if it’s okay to get divorced and still be a member of the church. I have known people who are divorced and wondered if they would still be welcome in the church.

Questions today seem to revolve around abortion, homosexuality, genetic testing, social media, and robotics. These and many of the issues of modern life are not issues that people raised with Jesus, so we need to look for some guiding principles for the real questions that we ask. And maybe we need to think about why we are asking those questions in the first place.

The second part of his reading we hear again of the disciples not understanding Jesus. Parents are bringing their children to Jesus to be blessed. As I mentioned in the last few weeks, children did not bring honour and held no status in society. The disciples decided that Jesus was too busy, too important, to deal with children.

I wonder how often our priorities are different to the priorities of Jesus.

One article I read this week offers an alternative interpretation of verse 15.  The Good News Bible reads: I assure you that whoever does not receive the Kingdom of God like a child will never enter it.” [GNB] this implies that we need to become like children to enter the Kingdom of God. Another way of reading the Greek is “Welcome the kingdom like you would welcome a child.”  [Mark G. Vitalis Hoffman working preacher October 2015]

Welcome the kingdom as you would welcome a child.

Divorce, embracing children, given the culture was so different, what has that to do with 21st century living?

As I look at these stories, I see a picture of Jesus who sides with the powerless, he wanted to protect women, who were not considered much more highly than property; Jesus who blesses the children, when his disciples think he’s too busy, too important, too tired.

In the reading from Hebrews we hear that even though God has spoken in a variety of ways, in Jesus we see the imprint of God, the reflection of God’s glory. I can remember hearing at one stage that Jesus is the best picture we have of God.

Jesus is the best picture we have of God, I wonder what these readings from Mark tell us about where we experience God;

• When we are strong?
• When we are suffering?
• When we are powerless?

The good news is that when society tells us we are not worth anything, when friends or family abandon us, when life seems to be one series of disasters after another, God does not abandon us.

This morning we will share in Communion together, a sign of grace, of God’s love. Today is World Communion Sunday, and some churches are thinking today about how we are all connected with churches right around the world through our faith in Jesus Christ; and through this common meal that we shared together.

As we reflect on the scripture readings I invite you to think about:

• What are the questions you struggle with?
• If Jesus is the best picture we have of God, what do we learn about God?

Whoever is not against us

[thanks to Spill the Beans and David Lose]

We have been reading through the Gospel of Mark, here is a quick outline from the middle of chapter 8.

Jesus asks the disciples ‘who do you say I am?’

Peter answers: the Messiah!

Jesus ordered the disciples not to tell anyone

Then Jesus tells the disciples he will die,

and Peter, says: No Way!

Jesus tells Peter off for focusing on human things, not divine things.

“If any of you want to come with me,” he told them, “you must forget yourself, carry your cross, and follow me.  For if you want to save your own life, you will lose it; but if you lose your life for me and for the gospel, you will save it.

  

Is it any wonder the disciples didn’t seem to understand what was going on at times?

then the story of the transfiguration of Jesus on the mountain –

a mystical experience for the three disciples with him.

Jesus and the three return to find the rest of the disciples in a pickle. They have tried healing a boy and not been able to.

Jesus heals the boy.

[Last week]

Jesus again tells the disciples he will be killed,

this time they are silent because they are afraid.

as they travel the road they argue over who is the greatest among them.  Jesus tells them the one who welcomes, the one who is a servant, these are the greatest in the kingdom of God.

Then we come to this passage, and the disciples,

the same disciples who could not cast the evil spirit from a boy,

the disciples tell Jesus,

that they have told someone to stop healing,

because he wasn’t part of the ‘our’ group. 

a story from Soill the Beans

Have you ever been on a Litter Pickup?

What do you need? (Gloves, a bin bag, a litter picker).

A bunch of friends, Lucy, David, Anja and Michael, went along one Saturday to the local park where their church had organised a Litter Pickup. They pulled on their gloves. They took a big black bin bag to share. They got two litter pickers between the four of them. And they each got a special bright yellow vest to wear, which said “ST PAUL’S CHURCH. LITTER PICK-UP. KEEPING OUR PARK BEAUTIFUL.”

The park needed their help—what a lot of litter there was, on the grass, on the paths, among the flowers and beside the pond! The children got to work. They were so proud to be part of a team doing something good! Soon the big black bag was half-full, with chip packets and chocolate wrappers and newspapers and plastic bottles and drinks cans. Lucy and David were carrying the bag along, while Anja and Michael used the litter pickers to carry pieces of paper and all the other rubbish to the bag.

“Look!” said Lucy suddenly, in a loud whisper. “What’s he doing?”

The others looked where Lucy was pointing. There under the big beech tree ahead of them, a man was picking up rubbish and putting it in a wee carrier bag. It wasn’t a proper big black bin bag. And he didn’t have any gloves or a litter picker. And he wasn’t wearing a special bright yellow vest.

 “He can’t do that!” said Michael. “This is OUR Litter Pick-up!”

But David started to smile. “He might not be in our team, but he’s helping to keep the park beautiful!” he said.

“I wish he’d stop!” grumbled Lucy, “I’ve never seen HIM at our church!”

Then Anja whispered, “I think we should say hello. Isn’t it great that we’re not the only ones who care about the park?”

 [Spill the Beans]

Jesus tells the disciples: “whoever is not against us is for us.”

“Whoever is not against us is for us.”

  

Jesus seems to continually be trying to open the disciples to an ever widening group of people. The lame and blind, outcasts of various sorts, lepers, women, children, non-Jews and now people who do good, who are agents of the kingdom, BUT aren’t part of the group!

I wonder which groups in this area work for the kingdom, without being part of this church, or any church?

And what is the Kingdom of God, and how do we participate in the work for the kingdom.

The early disciples in general were not wealthy or in positons of authority. The early church, the people Mark was writing for, were mainly those who were outcasts, the poor, the lame, and the people that the religious leaders looked down on.

This means that when we read Mark’s gospel, we need to use our imagination, we need to look for wat the early church might have heard.

The Kingdom of God is contrasted with the empire, or earthly kingdoms.

Do we look down on people who dress differently to us when they want to come to a church function?

How do we treat people who understand the gospel differently?

Here the disciples are involved in a demarcation dispute. A turf war. Do we accept people who are different, racially, theologically, politically? Do we accept people without trying to make them like ‘us’?

Then the reading seemingly makes another turn, but it goes back to the ‘little ones’ from the reading last week.  Don’t be a stumbling block. Last week Jesus was telling, and showing, the disciples to welcome the little ones, the least; and after the interlude about someone, but not one of the disciples, healing in Jesus name; Jesus takes the conversation back to the little ones.

Don’t be a stumbling block.  Don’t be a stumbling block for the little ones, the ones who are of little or no account in the culture, don’t lock them out, don’t make it hard for them.

There are more people who say they have a belief in God, than in all the churches combined.

As we think about the least in the community, people who are homeless, unemployed, single parents, people addicted to drugs of various kinds  - what might we do to make it easier for people to be part of a community of faith.

Some questions to think about:

Which groups could we work with to bring hope and healing in this community?

What might we do to make it easier for people to be part of a community of faith? 

Greatness

[Note: this is the written version, when I preach it usually changes]

Once again, Jesus tells the disciples he will be handed over and killed; and once again the disciples don’t understand what Jesus is talking about.

Do any of you remember not understanding something, but being too afraid to ask? It happened at times when I was at University. There was lots in Physics I struggled with, I didn’t understand enough to even ask a question, and I didn’t want to look stupid, so I sat there hoping I could avoid the embarrassment, and hoping I didn’t get asked a question.

Sometimes when we don’t understand something, it is because we need more time, or more explanation,

But there is another kind if not understanding. I think that is what is happening here with the disciples. They had reckoned that Jesus was the Messiah, the one who would save the people of Israel, and to the people that meant overthrowing the Romans. Jesus being arrested and killed was not part of being a new leader in place of the Romans.

So what could Jesus possibly mean by all this talk of being arrested and killed, and not just arrested, but betrayed. That meant someone close to him was going to be part of his death.

It didn’t make sense.

It didn’t fit with the picture the disciples had of the place of the Messiah.

Instead of asking questions, they didn’t say anything.

Then on the road they talk about who is going to be the greatest in the new kingdom – the one where Jesus is boss – see, it isn’t just that the disciples didn’t understand what Jesus had said, they already had an image of how the future will be, and they couldn’t imagine anything different. When they arrive at Capernaum, and are in the house – code for take notice, here comes a Jesus teaching moment - Jesus asks them what they have been discussing as they walked along. From the disciples we hear … silence!

 

I do feel sorry for the disciples, they give up everything to travel with Jesus, to learn and follow, and yet so much of what Jesus is talking about they don’t understand, but they continue on the journey with Jesus, and they look like fools at times.  There is plenty about life and faith that I don’t understand, and times when I put my foot in it and say something stupid; but at least no one is writing it all down for people to read in 2,000 years’ time.

 

We will look at the rest of the Mark reading shortly, but from this section, I wonder what you notice?

What happens when we have a pre-set idea about a person, or the future?

What happens when we allow fear to control our thinking?

In Mark’s gospel, fear is the opposite of faith.

 

And what happens when we think we deserve to be more important than anyone else?

Who is the greatest?

Well here are some examples from how this question plays out in real life.

• The change in leadership of the Liberal Party this week – the members of the party room had to decide who would make a better leader; which brings to my mind the question of what makes a good leader?
• On TV there are lots of examples of where people need to compete against each other – the Bachelor; My Kitchen Rules, X factor…..
• And then there is the world situation – people fighting over religion, doctrine, culture; people who want to rule, to have their own way and make everyone else live with their choice.  This has been going on for centuries. Remember, many of the victims of ISIS are other Muslims who have a different understanding of that faith. Wars are fought over land, but also ideas.
• We also see this when new compete with another congregation or denomination, or faith group.
• And we see it in the sporting arena.
• Closer to home, what happens when we think we deserve cheaper food or clothing, when that means the farmer or person making the clothes doesn’t earn enough to live on?
• What happens when we think we deserve more space, more water, quicker service; who lives without or gets left behind?

 

Sometimes we struggle to comprehend what is happening in our lives, because our view of reality is set, and conflicts with what is happening in our lives.

Well, Jesus goes on to tell the disciples about greatness. Not the greatness the disciples had been thinking about. Not the typical greatness of wealth, power and status.

“Jesus overturns the prevailing assumptions about power and security by inviting the disciples to imagine that abundant life comes not through gathering power but through displaying vulnerability, not through accomplishments but through service, and not by collecting powerful friends but by welcoming children.

These are small things when you think about it. Serving others, opening yourself to another’s need, being honest about your own needs and fears, showing kindness to a child, welcoming a stranger. But they are available to each and all of us every single day. And each time we make even the smallest of these gestures in faith – that is, find the strength and courage to reach out to another in compassion even when we are afraid – we will find our fear lessened, replaced by an increasingly resolute confidence that fear and death do not have the last word.” [David Lose]

good news!

Proclamation

 

 

^“ How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of the messenger who announces peace, who brings good news, who announces salvation,”

 

I have told you before that I think I have the best job in the world, that is telling people that God loves them, and that each of you also has this job.  We may use words to let people know they are loved by God, but more often it will be our presence, our listening, our praying, our support, that shows the love of God to people around us. We will bring the good news with a casserole or the washing, or flowers, or picking children up from school.  And this congregation is good at those practical ways of showing Gods love in action.

 

But I wonder if we downplay the story we have to tell.

Because it is a great story that we can tell.

The ‘big’ story

of the interplay of God and creation,

of God’s presence with people throughout time,

of the life and death and resurrection of Jesus,

of the spread of the message of Jesus throughout the known world in the early church.

 

There is also the personal story that each one of us has of the difference Jesus has made in our lives.

In freeing us from guilt and the fears that hold us back

In healing us from hurt and shame

In liberating us to be the person God created us to be

The stories of

the times when we have been aware of the presence of God or Jesus or the Spirit in a special way

the times we have sensed a deep inner peace in the midst of difficulty

 

as well as the ongoing story of God and creation and history

as well as our own personal story

there is the story of this congregation.

….

 

In the Gospel reading this morning, we heard about the two followers of Jesus who were discussing the events of the past week, trying to make sense of death and resurrection

Wondering if it was true

Wondering if the time spent following Jesus around, was a waste of time.

 

Talking with each other

about what we are experiencing,

about our struggles and joys

discussing bible readings and other material

all this builds up community, and  also encourages in our life as faithful followers of Jesus.

 

Hearing other people experiences and telling our own, can help us to understand, or at least acknowledge, the presence of God in our lives, and sometimes in ways that are startling.

 

I remember a time when I was on retreat, and I had an experience during a time of prayer and communion, that was new for me. It felt like someone was pouring warm oil over me – it felt wonderful and soothing, but I couldn’t understand what was happening. And I didn’t mention it to anyone in case they thought I was stupid or weird!

On the way home, the person who was travelling with me, told me of her experience a few years earlier,  and it was quite similar to what I had experienced the previous day. I was then comfortable to talk with her about it. Her words were good news to me.

 

^“ How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of the messenger who announces peace, who brings good news, who announces salvation,”

 

We can be bearers of good news to each other within this faith community, within small groups that meet for Bible study, discussion, craft and travel.  

But we can also be bearers of good news in the community.

By being involved in the community

By valuing all people

By being a place and a people who forgive

By offering space for people to talk about their doubts without judgement

 

We have a story to tell,

a story of peace and hope and joy and love and grace

we have a story to tell,

a story about a God who creates and recreates

a story of a God who was born and lived and healed and taught and forgave

a story of a God who dwells within us, who sanctifies and inspires

 

a story of how this community, Engadine Uniting Church,

has strengthened our faith,

has valued and loved us

has taught and encouraged

 

we have a story to tell of this community and the way its life is inspired by the love of God in Jesus.

in collecting food for Shire Youth, because people are important and food is a necessity

in operating the OOSH to help local families with quality child care.

In having social activities that all people are invited to participate in, that help ease social isolation.

 

We have a story to tell

Yet I have rarely heard those stories

Maybe that is because I am a scary person

Or you have other people to talk to

Or maybe like me, it can all be a bit uncomfortable and embarrassing, because someone might ask a question we can’t answer.

 

popcorn [maybe earlier or here?]

popping a single kernel over the Christ candle, thinking about story

  

“ How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of the messenger who announces peace, who brings good news, who announces salvation,”

 

In what ways do we announce good news, salvation and peace in our community?

we hunger for...?

This morning we are thinking about one of my favourite topics,  food.

In case you haven’t heard, I like food,

chocolate,

ice cream,

roast chicken,

BBQ steak,

my friend’s special fruit cake  …..

 

What is your favourite food?

How does it make you feel?

 

A bit of background to the reading:

Jesus and the disciples have just crossed the Lake, climbed a hill, Jesus is teaching the disciples, and … along comes a crowd.

Jesus asks one of  the disciples “Where are we to buy bread, so that these may eat?” [NASB]

Then there is story of the feeding more than five thousand people.

The crowd got excited.

Jesus went off on his own

The disciples start to cross the lake

There is a storm

Jesus walks towards them on the water

He gets into the boat

And they are at the shore.

 

Then the section we heard read this morning – Jesus the bread of life.

 

There are three aspects of this reading I will explore this morning.

 

Firstly, When and Why do we look for Jesus?

The crowd were looking for Jesus to give them more bread. As now, people get hungry, and there was no roadhouse to buy food from. Someone who can feed that many people must be amazing.

Reminds me of the cult of celebrity.

 

But I wonder what we are seeking at a deeper level.

If I don’t eat chocolate, I would miss it, but life would still go on as normal.

I wonder what else do we hunger for, other than food?

 

Acceptance?

Love?

Forgiveness?

Freedom?

 

You might be surprised to know that many people feel they are not accepted for who they are.  Various people will try and fit us into their expectations, and we can feel like a failure because we don’t fit that box. Some people feel like they are never good enough.

 

Other people will begin by telling me that they have done something so bad that God couldn’t forgive them,

which means they haven’t allowed God’s forgiveness to flood into their lives so that they can accept forgiveness for themselves.

 

What do you hunger for, deep down?

 

While we are busy thinking about chocolate and steak, I wonder what deeper hunger are we ignoring?  

 

…………….

 

The Message paraphrase has the crowd asking: “Well, what do we do then to get in on God’s works?”

 Jesus said, “Throw your lot in with the One that God has sent. That kind of a commitment gets you in on God’s works.”

“Throw your lot in with the One that God has sent.”

 

I wonder what that might look like. Then I came across a prayer by Sir Francis Drake, her is part of that prayer:

Disturb us, Lord, when
We are too well pleased with ourselves,
When our dreams have come true
Because we have dreamed too little,
When we arrived safely
Because we sailed too close to the shore.

…..

Disturb us, Lord, to dare more boldly,
To venture on wider seas
Where storms will show your mastery;
Where losing sight of land,
We shall find the stars.

We ask You to push back
The horizons of our hopes;
And to push into the future
In strength, courage, hope, and love.

 

“Throw your lot in with the One that God has sent.”

Do we give all of ourselves to Jesus?

Are our dreams big enough?

Do we stay close to shore or allow ourselves space to see the stars?

 

…….

 

After the conversation about manna and bread, Jesus tells the crowd: The Bread of God came down out of heaven and is giving life to the world.”

They jumped at that: “Master, give us this bread, now and forever!”

 

 

“Jesus is the bread that fulfils all our hunger and thirst.

Jesus frees us to follow him not to achieve self-satisfaction,

not to get anything that is in it for us,

not even to attain or maintain peace of mind.

Jesus frees us to embrace God’s redeeming will

to restore the cosmos to what God created

and humanity to what God intends.

Such faith does not mean separating the spiritual out of the social.

 It means putting God

rather than us

at the centre of both.

When we do,

we can and will expect more.”

 

[Working preacher: Commentary on John 6:24-35 Craig A. Satterlee]

 

 

The bread of God is giving life to the world – in what way does the bread of God, Jesus, bring life to the world?

Where are places you see this life?

Who are the people you seeing bearing this life to the world?

 

This morning we celebrate communion,

we will eat bread and drink juice together,

we remember the love of God for the world,

the life of Jesus, his death, resurrection and the gift of the spirit.

 

Just as to really enjoy food, we need to be aware of our hunger;

To feast on the bread of life, we need to be aware of our need.

 

Gospel reflection

 (inspired by John 6:24-35)

 

Our bellies are full

We are refreshed

Our minds are no longer dulled

By that gnawing ache of hunger

And yet

We long

There was more that took place on that day

Than just the loaves

…and fishes

what happened was good

…in the way creation was pronounced good

and yet

…we hunger for more

not just the food

that eased our hunger

but there was power in the words that were spoken

power that opened our minds

power that challenged us

and made us see

…a hunger

 we had not known

…(Jesus Said)

a hunger from deep within

which now that it has become loosed

will not be bound again

until it is fed

…(I am)

and nourished

as only God

…(the Bread)

as the Creator of all

…(of life)

can do

 

~ written by Dan Bollerud, and posted on Pastor Dan’s Grace Notes. http://coslcgrace.blogspot.ca/

 

[reflection time]