August
27, 2000
John 6:56-69 (CEV)
[Jesus is responding to confusion about eating his flesh and drinking
his blood] "If you eat my flesh and drink my blood, you are
one with me, and I am one with you.
"The living Father sent me, and I have life because of him.
Now everyone who eats my flesh will live because of me. The bread
that comes down from heaven isn't like what your ancestors ate.
They died, but whoever eats this bread will live forever."
Jesus was teaching in a Jewish place of worship in Capernaum when
he said these things.
Many of Jesus' disciples heard him and said, "This is too
hard for anyone to understand."
Jesus knew that his disciples were grumbling. So he asked, "Does
this bother you? What if you should see the Son of Man go up to
heaven where he came from? The Spirit is the one who gives life!
Human strength can do nothing. The words that I have spoken to
you are from that life-giving Spirit. But some of you refuse to
have faith in me." Jesus said this, because from the beginning
he knew who would have faith in him. He also knew which one would
betray him.
Then Jesus said, "You cannot come to me, unless the Father
makes you want to come. That is why I have told these things to
all of you."
Because of what Jesus said, many of his disciples turned their
backs on him and stopped following him. Jesus then asked his twelve
disciples if they were going to leave him. Simon Peter answered,
"Lord, there is no one else that we can go to! Your words
give eternal life. We have faith in you, and we are sure that
you are God's Holy One."
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1.
There are some things which are too hard for us to bear in a given
moment. We all are betrayers of ourselves and one another. So,
take out a piece of paper and take the time to reflect in writing
on what it is that seems too hard for you right now.
It is amazing how this will sharpen your prayers and attune you
the surprising mystery of GOD.
2.
There are some things which have been too hard for us to bear
for a long time. We all have tapes from the past playing in our
heads and hearts which constrict the freedom of GOD. So, take
out another piece of paper and take the time it takes to reflect
on where the flow of forgiveness has been constricted in your
life.
It is amazing how this will sharpen your energy and awaken you
to the surprising mystery of GOD.
3.
As you consider the pairing of betrayal and forgiveness, give
thanks for the image of eternal life. What does that mean to you
as a betrayer of yourself, others, and GOD? What does that mean
to you as a forgiven and beloved child of GOD? What words of eternal
life do you hear in the midst of confusion between bread and flesh
and community and blood?