Last week Jesus was still engaged by the crowds of people who had seen him cure illnesses and heal lives. They had also experienced the miracle of the loaves and fish. Jesus confronted the people and challenged them about why they were following him. We found ourselves drawn into pondering, "who is Jesus?" and considering the nature of God.
This week, Jesus encounters not the crowds but the "Jews." The Jews referred to in this passage are the people of his boyhood. He grew up in this community of good Jewish people. They knew where he came from. Haven't we all been embarrassed by people who sometimes know us better than we know ourselves. When Jesus equates himself too closely with God, the people of his boyhood community stumble into a place they had never been. They cannot accept this teaching, that Jesus mediates God ... that Jesus IS God in the flesh ... can you? This is a hard teaching especially for those who have not grown up with this idea of Jesus as the human manifestation of God. After all, for his religious community this would feel like idolatry. Let your ponderings take you into the place these people found themselves.
I invite you to spend a few moments to prepare your heart to receive the Word of God as you prayerfully consider the Scripture passage for today. Breathe deeply and envision Jesus, the bread of life, listening to you, loving you right where you are and “feeding” your soul. Settle into a sense of abundance within yourself with a simple breath prayer. Use the one or create your own (six to eight syllables)
Breathe in … Bread of Life (pause) Breath out … forever (pause)
and when you are ready to move deeper into the text ... Pray: Jesus, you are the bread of my life. And yet I often find it hard to accept the depth of what you are saying. Help me to listen deeply to you and understand this eternal life you offer. Amen … Amen … Amen
Step 1: Lectio … Reading Read John 6:35, 41-51 silently to yourself twice, slowly and reverently.
Listen for a word or phrase that catches your attention. Gently focus on that word or phrase.
Repeat it several times and allow it to be sifted through your heart and mind all the way to your soul.
Jesus said to them, ‘I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty. Then the Jews began to complain about him because he said, ‘I am the bread that came down from heaven.’ They were saying, ‘Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How can he now say, “I have come down from heaven”?’ Jesus answered them, ‘Do not complain among yourselves. No one can come to me unless drawn by the Father who sent me; and I will raise that person up on the last day. It is written in the prophets, “And they shall all be taught by God.” Everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to me. Not that anyone has seen the Father except the one who is from God; he has seen the Father. Very truly, I tell you, whoever believes has eternal life. I am the bread of life. Your ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died. This is the bread that comes down from heaven, so that one may eat of it and not die. I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats of this bread will live for ever; and the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh.’
Step 2: Meditatio … Receiving
Continue to focus on your word or phrase.
Pay attention to the thoughts and feelings it evokes.
What images emerge in your imagination?
What memories come to your mind?
Ask God to continue to speak to you through this word.
Listen for God’s reply as you move through your day
Step 3: Oratio … Responding
Consider any desires that have been awakened by your prayer.
Perhaps you have found an area of your life that needs attention.
Do not rush ... wait and listen as God forms your prayers and desires
Step 4: Contempatio … Resting
Allow yourself to rest in the silence.
Allow your mind to settle into the silence.
When you feel the time to move on ...
Pray … Bread of Life, let me live forever in your Presence … Amen
Cindy's Meditation ... There is something about this passage that reminds me of Isaiah 55 and I rest with these words as a meditation ... and I think of my mom who passed away several years ago "the myrtle" and my dad, whose health is failing "the cypress." Yes, eternal life is very comforting to us as we watch our loved ones die and waste away ... come up myrtle! come up cypress! amen! Ahhhh, and yet we know that eternal life begins right here as we follow Jesus into eternity!
Ho, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters;
and you that have no money, come, buy and eat!
Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.
Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread,
and your labour for that which does not satisfy?
Listen carefully to me, and eat what is good,
and delight yourselves in rich food.
Incline your ear, and come to me;
listen, so that you may live.
I will make with you an everlasting covenant,
my steadfast, sure love for David.
See, I made him a witness to the peoples,
a leader and commander for the peoples.
See, you shall call nations that you do not know,
and nations that do not know you shall run to you,
because of the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel,
for he has glorified you.
Seek the Lord while he may be found,
call upon him while he is near;
let the wicked forsake their way,
and the unrighteous their thoughts;
let them return to the Lord, that he may have mercy on them,
and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.
For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
nor are your ways my ways, says the Lord.
For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
so are my ways higher than your ways
and my thoughts than your thoughts.
For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven,
and do not return there until they have watered the earth,
making it bring forth and sprout,
giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater,
so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth;
it shall not return to me empty,
but it shall accomplish that which I purpose,
and succeed in the thing for which I sent it.
For you shall go out in joy,
and be led back in peace;
the mountains and the hills before you
shall burst into song,
and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.
Instead of the thorn shall come up the cypress;
instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle;
and it shall be to the Lord for a memorial,
for an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off. Amen!
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