Sunday 4th August: 10th Sunday after Trinity: John 6: 24-35
So when the crowd saw that neither Jesus nor His disciples were there, they got into the boats and went to Capernaum to look for Him. When they found Him on the other side of the sea, they asked Him, “Rabbi, when did You get here?” Jesus replied, “Truly, truly, I tell you, it is not because you saw these signs that you are looking for Me, but because you ate the loaves and had your fill. Do not work for food that perishes, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For on Him God the Father has placed His seal of approval.” Then they inquired, “What must we do to perform the works of God?” Jesus replied, “The work of God is this: to believe in the One He has sent.” So they asked Him, “What sign then will You perform, so that we may see it and believe You? What will You do? Our fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, as it is written: ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’” Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I tell you, it was not Moses who gave you the bread from heaven, but it is My Father who gives you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is He who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” “Sir,” they said, “give us this bread at all times.” Jesus answered, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to Me will never hunger, and whoever believes in Me will never thirst.
Jesus had just performed the miracle of feeding 5000 people and had escaped for a time of peace the other side of the lake, but the crowds had followed Him. They had been physically fed, but did not understand the significance of what Jesus had done spiritually. Jesus tried to explain that knowing him and trusting him will satisfy us mentally and spiritually: knowing him gives us everlasting life: knowing him gives meaning and purpose in our lives.
Those crowds in Galilee saw Jesus as just a miracle- worker. How can we get to know Jesus better so that we get to know Him as the bread of our lives - one who will satisfy us and give our lives meaning and purpose?
Sunday 11th August: 11th Sunday after Trinity: John 6: 35, 41-51
Jesus answered, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to Me will never hunger, and whoever believes in Me will never thirst. At this, the Jews began to grumble about Jesus because He had said, “I am the bread that came down from heaven.” They were asking, “Is this not Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How then can He say, ‘I have come down from heaven?’” “Stop grumbling among yourselves,” Jesus replied. “No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him, and I will raise him up at the last day. It is written in the Prophets: ‘And they will all be taught by God.’ Everyone who has heard the Father and learned from Him comes to Me— not that anyone has seen the Father except the One who is from God; only He has seen the Father. Truly, truly, I tell you, he who believes has eternal life. I am the bread of life. Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, yet they died. This is the bread that comes down from heaven, so that anyone may eat of it and not die. I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. And this bread, which I will give for the life of the world, is My flesh.”
Jesus’ teaching wasn’t acceptable to everyone – many of them could not believe that this son of Joseph the carpenter was telling them that he had ‘come down from heaven’. So often in life we can be held back in our faith on technicalities – small matters which seem to weigh heavily with us, meaning that we miss the bigger picture. Jesus wanted the crowds to know that his way was the only way. God’s way really is the only way for us to live – to follow him and try and lead the lives he wants us to – this is what he wanted them to understand. And God’s way is to love him, and to love other people as we love ourselves. And with his help, we can try to do this.
Are you holding back from putting your trust in God because of questions or problems with perhaps less important things? When we put God in the centre of our lives, the challenges we face seem more in proportion as we know we will be given the strength to face them.
Sunday 18th August: 12th Sunday after Trinity: John 6: 51-58
I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. And this bread, which I will give for the life of the world, is My flesh.” At this, the Jews began to argue among themselves, “How can this man give us His flesh to eat?” So Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I tell you, unless you eat the flesh and drink the blood of the Son of Man, you have no life in you. Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. For My flesh is real food, and My blood is real drink. Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood remains in Me, and I in him. Just as the living Father sent Me and I live because of the Father, so also the one who feeds on Me will live because of Me. This is the bread that came down from heaven. Unlike your fathers, who ate the manna and died, the one who eats this bread will live forever.”
Jesus continued his teaching to the crowd who of course then didn’t know he would actually give his life – for them and the whole world – by dying on the cross. We celebrate this immense sacrifice as we receive communion in the form of bread and wine, remembering the Last Supper when Jesus shared a meal with his friends. It is a symbolic act which reminds us that Jesus did die – although he was God’s son. He allowed himself to be killed in order that we could know and accept God’s amazing love for us. And that love surrounds us each day, knowing that we will make mistakes in our lives, but reassuring us that whilst we try to do God’s will and don’t achieve this, he understands and forgives us.
Can you this week take time to look back on the last few days and see where God’s hand and presence have been part of your life? Can you thank him for this, and ask forgiveness for the times when you feel you’ve let him down? God is waiting to reassure you and bring you his peace.
Sunday 25th August: 14th Sunday after Trinity: Mark 6 56-69
Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood remains in Me, and I in him. Just as the living Father sent Me and I live because of the Father, so also the one who feeds on Me will live because of Me. This is the bread that came down from heaven. Unlike your fathers, who ate the manna and died, the one who eats this bread will live forever.” Jesus said this while teaching in the synagogue in Capernaum. On hearing it, many of His disciples said, “This is a difficult teaching. Who can accept it?” Aware that His disciples were grumbling about this teaching, Jesus asked them, “Does this offend you? Then what will happen if you see the Son of Man ascend to where He was before? The Spirit gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words I have spoken to you are spirit and they are life. However, there are some of you who do not believe.” (For Jesus had known from the beginning which of them did not believe and who would betray Him.) Then Jesus said, “This is why I told you that no one can come to Me unless the Father has granted it to him.” From that time on many of His disciples turned back and no longer walked with Him. So Jesus asked the Twelve, “Do you want to leave too?” Simon Peter replied, “Lord, to whom would we go? You have the words of eternal life. We believe and know that You are the Holy One of God.”
Jesus’ teaching isn’t always easy or straightforward and at the time we are told many people turned away and rejected what he was trying to tell them. Over 2000 years later people are still hearing and being encouraged to accept what the bible tells us, yet some find this difficult. Yet the words ring true as they did when Jesus first spoke them. The only way to live a fulfilled balanced and faith-filled life is to accept and follow Jesus’ teaching. If we live by God’s word, we receive his strength regardless of whatever we face.
Are you prepared to accept Jesus’ teaching and trust in God to help you face whatever challenges you may have in life? Life won’t necessarily be easier but you will never be alone in trying to deal with decisions and situations.