A reading from The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to John (6:56 to 69) for Sunday of Proper 16: Year B
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 to 69)
The truth of the matter is, we don’t have choices. God, our God, is Lord of all and it is our hope and trust that God, our one God, is loving and merciful to all of us. This love and mercy component about God has been handed down since humanity has recorded our relationship with God. This record is both Biblically recorded, and handed down word of mouth for generations.
Our Trust is in the goodness of God as made manifest in the person of our Lord Jesus Christ. As Peter says, who else can we appeal to or seek out for help if not our Lord Jesus? I think the real good news for us, and for all people, is that no matter what happens to us, God wins every time. Nothing can happen to us that God can’t undo. Our Lord Jesus taught us to pray to God the Creator in a “child-to-parent” way, for our help and safety. Our help is in the Maker of heaven and earth. The Incarnate One walked among us to guide us to Himself for our sakes. There is no one else we can count on for eternal life. Simon Peter is so right. Thank You Lord Jesus.
Please keep up your thoughts and prayers and hopes for Ukraine and Russia, Israel and Palestine, and our schools. And, as we listen to what the Spirit of God is saying to us, let us live to love and serve, and to teach others to love and serve, while pondering anew what the Almighty can do. John
Let us pray as our Lord Jesus taught us to pray:
. “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your Name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us and save us from the time of trial and deliver from evil,” Amen.
onewhoponders 