John 6:56-69
Proper 16 (21) - Year B
Quite a range of responses to Jesus - complaining, disbelief, rejection, confessing faith, betrayal - and these among his followers.
Do you feel better about your setting now that you see how Jesus was responded to?
What is your understanding of the straw that broke the disciples' backs and caused them to leave? Was it the bread/flesh talk? the ascension suggestion? the destiny vs. free-will proposal? something beyond Jesus himself, something in the culture that wasn't being transformed quickly enough?
So why are you still sticking around this Jesus? And how can you state that without getting into religious talk that will need more and more talk to explain your point? Any idea what your breaking point is with Jesus? with the Church?
It might be well for us to reflect on Simon Peter's affirmation of Jesus as the Holy One and Jesus' response to that by indicating that he chose both Peter and Judas - affirmer and betrayer. How does this reflect the calling of GOD of both saint and sinner? (Oops, I just strayed beyond the pericope again - I guess we don't have to wrestle with that after all and we can simply rejoice in the affirmation.)
http://www.kairoscomotion.org/lectionary/2003/august2003.html
If you had to choose between grandeur or protection, which would it be? The grandness of Solomon's over-the-top prayer and grandiose temple is a wonder to behold. It inspires awe. Is that a desired dwelling place for more than a moment?
Joshua's recounting of a journey from nowhere to a particular somewhere and the interpreted protection that took in the face of enslavers and people already living where we claimed we were to live and were, thus, by definition, our enemies. It inspires awe. Is this a desired dwelling place for generations?
Where is G*D's dwelling place? Temple or Promised Land? Prayer or Journey?
- - -
we image G*D's armor
as being fit for us to wear
forgetting David trying
to wear Saul's helmet and shield
what arrogance we have
to be able to bear up
under the weight of armor
umpteen times too big
such armor can at best
be worn by a whole community
and even then turns to pride
claiming god on our side
what armor is there
against spiritual forces
a Maginot line
against flanking tanks
participate in prayer
for all saints of every stripe
share life and lives
be bread for one another
trust not in more arms
trust arms more
which may embrace
with shorthand's - amore
http://kcmlection.blogspot.com/2007_08_01_archive.html
G*D
G*D and me
G*D and me and you
G*D
I ate G*D
Join me in eating G*D
"This teaching is difficult; who can accept it?"
"Offended? [dope slap] I'm talkin' spirit here! A spirit of life, not just existence."
[pause]
"Offended enough to leave?"
[some/most? wander away]
"Guess not; don't want to go through this coming-to-believe stuff again."
= = = = = = =
So what is keeping you hanging around this spirit-talk and sometimes spirit-living? Too tired to leave? (wonderful song by Louise Taylor and Chris Smithers) Committed, come-hell-or-high-water, no matter what the cognitive dissonance, to stick to your current beliefs?
Let's drink to one another with our eyes. [spoken] [sung]
http://kcmlection.blogspot.com/2009_08_01_archive.html
“Those who rally to my flag are my comrades. Come, let us make an eternal pact. When victory is ours you will have your reward.”
This common appeal has in it a promise and a problem. The promise is heard. The problem is felt: “Oh yeah? Prove it.” And so even among true believers there is a modicum of doubt, or acceptance.
The expected response comes, “The proof is on the way, but delayed because of your unbelief.”
We almost expect an appeal to clap loudly to bring Tinkerbell back. And it comes. “Your eternity has already been determined, so step forward—volunteer and join, you’ll see.”
Not unsurprisingly, many current followers left. Those remaining were heard to mutter, “More for me. Show me where to sign.”
In Pentecost it is important to ask the question: are you trusting because you expect some reward for doing so? If you remember back, the movement out of expectation into action of interpretation and community that risked losing everything came in a moment, not calculable.
It is not the degree of difficulty of belief that leads to greater maturity. That is for Olympic medals. For meaningful life it is simply doing the best available in the moment. Blessings on your willingness to move beyond whatever fear keeps us in a small room and away from the fresh air of engagement with a larger community beyond the calculation of marketplace.
http://kcmlection.blogspot.com/2012/08/john-656-69.html