Two Questions

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bread of life, gratitude, John, leave, Lectionary, psalm 116, reflection, The Sophia Center for Spirituality

There are two significant questions in the lectionary readings for today. One would have been enough for a day’s worth of reflection (or more) but it seems only right not to choose between them. The first measures our “gratitude quotient” – perhaps for days when things are going our way, but not necessarily if we are in the habit of deep reflection. The second concerns the depth and content of our faith. I offer both in hopes that they may come to be seen as two components of unified whole.

1. The refrain of Psalm 116: How shall I make a return to the Lord for all the good he has done for me?
2. A question of Jesus at the end of chapter 6 of John’s gospel, following his declaration that has come to be known as the “Bread of Life” discourse in which Jesus said, “Unless you eat my body and drink my blood, you shall not have life within you…” After that, the gospel says, “many of the disciples remarked, ‘This saying is hard; who can accept it?’ As a result, many of his disciples returned to their former way of life and no longer walked with him. Jesus then said to the Twelve, ‘Do you also want to leave?'”

 

 

 

 

 

 

To Whom Shall We Go?

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believe, bread of life, difficulty, eternal life, Jesus, John, sweetness and light, the cost fo discipleship, the Holy One of God, The Sophia Center for Spirituality, twelve apostles

It is often true that when people begin to wake up to God’s presence in their lives all is “sweetness and light” – as is also the case in human relationships. As we proceed along this path, however, there are times when it seems to be more than we bargained for and feels too difficult to continue. God may be asking too much of us or we feel less able than we thought we were to meet the relational demands. This is the case in this morning’s gospel (JN 6:60-69) after the “Bread of Life” discourse, one of what scholars call the “hard sayings” of Jesus. Many people returned to their former way of life after that, no longer following Jesus.

The end of this section of the gospel always speaks to me on an emotional level as well as intellectually. Jesus asks his twelve closest followers, “Do you also want to leave?” Jesus, being fully human, must have been feeling defeated by the loss of those who had misunderstood him or comprehended that they were being called to more than they thought. He was being true to his mission and needed to be honest about the cost of discipleship. The answer of the Twelve always urges me to answer similarly. They reassure him by saying, “Master, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and are convinced that you are the Holy One of God.”

Morning Praise

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bread of life, Creator, foliage, majesty, psalm111, splendor, The Sophia Center for Spirituality

I know that I have enthused before about the beauty of the Northeast in the United States (and probably will again) but I do think it’s hard to miss the majesty and generosity of the Creator when October puts on such a miraculous show, splashing color all over the hills and highways with the autumn leaves. The psalmist is in accord this morning in speaking of the God who has made an everlasting covenant with us. I offer some of these words from Psalm 111 as praise for the day.

Your works brim full of majesty, your splendor shines through everything, and right relationship grounds all that is. These last and will not fade from life or mind, for we remember well with pure delight your utter graciousness, your deep compassion. You are the source and bread of life; you feed the souls of those in covenant with you.