The Bread of Life, Week 5

In this 5 week series, we focus on Jesus who says to us, “I am the Bread of Life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.”  (John 6:35)

For the last couple of weeks, we have seen the Jewish community of Jesus reject these words.  This is not really surprising!  However, this week rejection hits closer to his heart for many of his followers stopped following.  They just couldn't accept this teaching.  But those closest to him, represented by Simon Peter declare, "‘Lord, to whom can we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and know that you are the Holy One of God.’  

This is the highlight of the chapter for me.  In many ways it has been a tough journey and yet we have arrived to the place we have moving for the last 5 weeks.  We ask, "Who is Jesus?"  And we answer with John, "Jesus is the Holy One of God," a human being of the same substance as God, through whom we receive as a free gift of grace ... eternal life, not just in the afterlife but right here and right now!

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 Holy One of God.  In your vision, what does the Holy One of God look like?  What is the Holy One of God doing?  Settle into a sense of awe, peace, and blessing within yourself with a simple breath prayer.  Use this one or create your own (six to eight syllables)

          Breathe in … Bread of Life (pause) Breath out … Holy One of God (pause)

and when you are ready to move deeper into the text ...  Pray: O Jesus, You are the Holy One of God!    Amen … Amen … Amen

Step 1: Lectio … Reading Read John 6:56-69 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.

Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood abide in me, and I in them. Just as the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so whoever eats me will live because of me. This is the bread that came down from heaven, not like that which your ancestors ate, and they died. But the one who eats this bread will live for ever.’ He said these things while he was teaching in the synagogue at Capernaum. When many of his disciples heard it, they said, ‘This teaching is difficult; who can accept it?’ But Jesus, being aware that his disciples were complaining about it, said to them, ‘Does this offend you? Then what if you were to see the Son of Man ascending to where he was before? It is the spirit that gives life; the flesh is useless. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life. But among you there are some who do not believe.’ For Jesus knew from the first who were the ones that did not believe, and who was the one that would betray him. And he said, ‘For this reason I have told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted by the Father.’   Because of this many of his disciples turned back and no longer went about with him. So Jesus asked the twelve, ‘Do you also wish to go away?’ Simon Peter answered him, ‘Lord, to whom can we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and know that you are the Holy One of God.’

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 … Holy One of God, You have the words of eternal life.  I believe in you.  I know you.  Your Spirit lives within me.  Let me live in Your Presence for all of eternity … Amen

Rublev's Christ as Saviour c1410
and Christ Pantocrator c 1600

Cindy's Meditation ... Holy One of God, I want to be holy.  I want to live and breathe into the space you have created within me so that you are always present with me.  I am filled with joy at your presence.   Let me gaze into the face of the Icon and allow you to search my soul.  I want to be holy as you are holy.  

Search me, O God, 

and know my heart;

test me and 

know my anxious thoughts.

Point out anything in me 

that offends you, 

and lead me along 

the path of everlasting life.  

Psalm 139:23-24

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The Bread of Life, Week 4

In this 5 week series, we focus on Jesus who says to us, “I am the Bread of Life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.”  (John 6:35)

This week Jesus is still with the Jewish community of his boyhood.  And they are still astounded at his "audacity."  Not only has Jesus equated himself with God ... he says that one must eat his flesh and drink his blood in order to have eternal life.  Crazy!  And I have to admit that reading this short passage I get a little "creeped out" myself.  I think if I had been there, I would have been shaking my head along with everyone else.  I grew up taking "communion" once a month when I was attending church.  I am used to the metaphorical language that is used.  I understand what is actually being said.  But Jesus gives no "real" explanation to these people.  And they argue among themselves ... 

As we move through these "Bread of Life" passages over these 5 weeks, this more than any other week is the week to talk about the sacrament of "holy communion."  A sacrament is an outward sign of an inward grace.  When we celebrate communion, we believe that Jesus is truly present with us.  We do not, however, agree about what that means.  

In some religious traditions, as in the Catholic Church, persons believe in transubstantiation. This means the elements which are the bread (body) and wine/juice (blood) change into the actual substance of the body and blood of Jesus.  

United Methodists, as I am, believe in transignification.  We believe the elements do not physically change, but the bread and wine/juice change in significance and purpose. They are spiritual nourishment, a "holy mystery." Read more in the United Methodist publication called This Holy Mystery.  

There are still others that believe that the celebration of holy communion, also known as the Eucharist (thanksgiving) or the Lord's Supper, is only a symbolic gesture in remembrance of Jesus.   

This is both a well defined doctrine in most religious traditions and a deeply personal issue.  Each person has to work through for themselves in their own personal and communal situation.  In the Upper Room at the Last Supper, Jesus "took a loaf of bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying,  ‘This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.’ And he did the same with the cup after supper, saying, ‘This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood."  At the time of the writing of John's Gospel, the early church were developing a tradition and from reading the text, we can assume this issue was deeply divisive in their community.  I believe this is why John devotes an entire chapter on Jesus as the Bread of Life. In many ways, it is a "life or death" question.  For Jesus says finally, "the one who eats this bread will live for ever."

Last Supper by Theophanes the Cretan [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons
Mid 16th Century, Painting located at Stavronikita Monastery, Mount Athos

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, challenging you with his words.  Settle into a sense of peaceful pondering within yourself with a simple breath prayer.  Use this one or create your own (six to eight syllables)

          Breathe in … Bread of Life (pause) Breath out … I want to live! (pause)

and when you are ready to move deeper into the text ...  Pray: Jesus, you are the bread of my life.  I fear I do not truly understand what you are saying.  Help me understand and embrace your presence in the sacrament of Holy Communion.   Amen … Amen … Amen

Step 1: Lectio … Reading Read John 6:51-58 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.

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.’   The Jews then disputed among themselves, saying, ‘How can this man give us his flesh to eat?’ So Jesus said to them, ‘Very truly, I tell you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood have eternal life, and I will raise them up on the last day; for my flesh is true food and my blood is true drink. Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood abide in me, and I in them. Just as the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so whoever eats me will live because of me. This is the bread that came down from heaven, not like that which your ancestors ate, and they died. But the one who eats this bread will live for ever.’

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 ... life of the world, Jesus talks about the whole world, not just me.  Jesus loves not just a few people but every person in the whole world.  How can I not believe that Jesus gave God-Self for every single person?   But I do believe it.  God cares for the world more than I can imagine and this makes me feel a sense of awe.  Somehow the more I know of God's love for all of humanity and all of creation, the bigger God seems.  And yet, how strange it is to think about eating his flesh and drinking his blood.  It sounds more acceptable to say ... The bread of Life, the Cup of Salvation!   I want to understand more deeply ... O God fill my heart with understanding as I rest in your presence ... God's love revealed

For a quiet reflection with music and images of a Catholic Communion Service, view John Michael Talbot's I am the Bread of Life on YouTube.  Or close your eyes and listen to the more traditional hymn I am the Bread of Life by Robert Kochis.

The Bread of Life, Week 3

In this 5 week series, we focus on Jesus who says to us, “I am the Bread of Life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.”  (John 6:35)

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!

The Bread of Life, Week 2

In this 5 week series, we focus on Jesus who says to us, “I am the Bread of Life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.”  (John 6:35)

In last week's lectionary reading, Jesus fed 5000 men.  If we consider there must have been women and children there as well we are talking closer to 10000 people, give or take.  He fed them all till they were satisfied and had 12 baskets left over ... all with the generous gift of five loaves and two fish from a young boy.   When I shared this story with the children in our worship service last Sunday, one little boy about 6 years old exclaimed, "wow, that is amazing!"    That's what the people with full bellies thought that day ... suddenly they began calling Jesus a prophet and wanted to make him a King!    But the time had not yet come.  Jesus disappeared because truly he is more than a prophet and more than a king on this earth.  Jesus is the Bread of Life!  For more on last week's passage, take this link: The Bread of Life, Week 1.

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, challenging you yet loving you right where you are and desiring to "feed" your soul.  Settle into a sense of abundance within yourself with a simple breath prayer.  Use this one or create your own (six to eight syllables)

          Breathe in … Bread of Life (pause)        Breathe out ... feed my soul (pause)

          Breathe in ... Bread of Life (pause)         Breathe out ... fill my cup (pause)

          Breathe in ... Bread of Life (pause)         Breathe out ... make me whole (pause)

and when you are ready to move deeper into the text ...  Pray: Jesus, you are the bread of my life.  Help me look past the things in my life that get in my way so that I see the "signs" in my life that point to God in Christ as the source of deep satisfaction in my soul.  Let me always know you are present with me and let me rest in you.  Amen … Amen … Amen

Step 1: Lectio … Reading    Read John 6:24-35 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.

So when the crowd saw that neither Jesus nor his disciples were there, they themselves got into the boats and went to Capernaum looking for Jesus.   When they found him on the other side of the lake, they said to him, ‘Rabbi, when did you come here?’ Jesus answered them, ‘Very truly, I tell you, you are looking for me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves. Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures for eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For it is on him that God the Father has set his seal.’ Then they said to him, ‘What must we do to perform the works of God?’ Jesus answered them, ‘This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.’ So they said to him, ‘What sign are you going to give us then, so that we may see it and believe you? What work are you performing? Our ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written, “He gave them bread from heaven to eat.” ’ Then Jesus said to them, ‘Very 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 that which comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.’ They said to him, ‘Sir, give us this bread always.’   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.

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.    Watch for God's Presence ...

Listen for a fresh word as your understanding deepens. 

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 watch and listen for God in Christ.  Allow your prayers to flow from the depths of your soul ... Let God form your prayers!

Step 4: Contempatio … Resting

Allow yourself to sit in the silence.  Allow your mind to settle into the silence.  Simply rest until you can rest no more.  When you feel the time to move on ...

Pray … Bread of Life, feed my soul. fill my cup, and make me whole … Amen

 

  © Cindy Serio 2012

Cindy’s Sermonic Meditation … 


This morning we find ourselves at basically the same place as last week.   The crowd of people is looking for Jesus again.  And yet in many ways, they are in a very different place.  They have not only “seen” Jesus cure illness and heal lives they themselves had “experienced” the loaves and the fish filling them until they were no longer hungry.   Now … they want more!    And I understand that.   It doesn’t take long for that gnawing pit of desire to begin rumbling … 

more!  more!  more! 

Last week, I posed a question for us to ponder, I asked, “How is Jesus the Bread of your Life?”   

As I read and studied and prayed, I took this question with me.   I found that pondering this question is not as easy as I thought it would be.   At some point I began to think the question was too simplistic and then I thought maybe I simply asked it too soon.    Today, I think it’s a question that invites us to truly contemplate the nature of God!

As I walked with the crowds of people following Jesus … wanting more!  more!  more!  

I heard these words become louder and louder … “you are looking for me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves.”   Last week I told you and I’ll remind you this morning that In John's Gospel, the word “sign” is a literary device used in the text to point to the identity of Jesus.  So what did I hear Jesus saying when I listened underneath the translated word? 

You aren’t looking for me because you know who I am.

You are looking for me for what I can do for you.

Ouch!  Really?   

Ahhh … once again we grapple with the human condition.   

How often are our prayers long on requests and short on praise?  

How often are our prayers long on talking and short on listening?

How often are our prayers long on bargaining and short on surrender?

How often do we measure God’s presence and God’s favor with a yardstick called      

        circumstances?   

How often do we ask “where is God” when the bottom falls out?

How often are our circumstances an obstacle to belief?   

As I was pondering all of these questions this week, I came across a reflection by Retired Bishop Woodie White in The United Methodist Reporter.  It was called “When it Becomes Difficult to Believe in God.”   He tells a story about a young man who came to him to say, “I no longer believe in God.”   Because of the circumstances of his life and the evil that he had suffered at the hands of other human beings, this young man doubted the presence of a Supreme Being who had his interests at heart and if there was one, Bread of Life or not, he wanted no part of a God who would allow such things to happen.    I believe that as Bishop White listened to this young man’s story … he was gathering up the fragments of brokenness and he was holding them in the presence of the Risen Christ, the One who calls himself The Bread of Life … all the while hoping and praying and trusting that: 

Perhaps … one day the young man might find God again.  

Perhaps … one day, the young man will hear Jesus say deep in his soul … 

“I am the bread of life.

Whoever comes to me will never be hungry, and

whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.”

And he will respond with all of God's People who say: Amen!

Sermon preached at Ashford UMC on Sunday, August 5, 2012

The Bread of Life, Week 1

The next 5 weeks we focus on Jesus, who says to us, “I am the Bread of Life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.”  (John 6:35)  

Let us begin to explore what that means for each one of us as we come to Christ … again and again, forever and ever ... with all of our hunger and all of our thirst ...

Over the next few weeks we find ourselves walking with the writer of the fourth and last biblical Gospel to be written.  We find hints of historical context as we read through the heightened conflict with Jewish religious officials that reflects a later time period that that of Jesus’ ministry.  John is a more theological (who is God?) writer than the other Gospel writers and could even be considered more Christological (who is Christ?) than theological.  We read the writing of one who has journeyed with Yahweh God for many years and one who seeks to draw us deeper into the mystical presence of God in Christ.  John uses a lot of metaphorical language to drive his writing.  We ask what Jesus means when he says, “I am the Bread of Life.”   And when we hear Jesus say these words, we cry out with the great crowds of people following Jesus, “Give us this Bread!”    

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 this one or create your own (six to eight syllables) 

          Breathe in … Bread of Life (pause)

                               Breath out … feed my soul (pause)

and when you are ready to move deeper into the text ...  

Pray: Jesus, you are the bread of my life.  You satisfy my soul when I join you in serving and sharing with others.  Let me always rest in you.  Amen … Amen … Amen

Lectio Divina, or the sacred and prayerful reading of the text, is best practiced with 10 verses, give or take a verse or 2.  Although the Lectionary Reading this week encompasses John 6:1-21 and includes 2 stories which are deeply tied to one another, we will shorten the lection and pray with verses 1-15 as follows … Jesus feeds the five thousand.

Step 1: Lectio … Reading

Read John 6:1-15 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.

After this Jesus went to the other side of the Sea of Galilee, also called the Sea of Tiberias.  A large crowd kept following him, because they saw the signs that he was doing for the sick. Jesus went up the mountain and sat down there with his disciples. Now the Passover, the festival of the Jews, was near. When he looked up and saw a large crowd coming towards him, Jesus said to Philip, ‘Where are we to buy bread for these people to eat?’ He said this to test him, for he himself knew what he was going to do. Philip answered him, ‘Six months’ wages would not buy enough bread for each of them to get a little.’ One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, said to him, ‘There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish. But what are they among so many people?’ Jesus said, ‘Make the people sit down.’ Now there was a great deal of grass in the place; so they sat down, about five thousand in all. Then Jesus took the loaves, and when he had given thanks, he distributed them to those who were seated; so also the fish, as much as they wanted. When they were satisfied, he told his disciples, ‘Gather up the fragments left over, so that nothing may be lost.’ So they gathered them up, and from the fragments of the five barley loaves, left by those who had eaten, they filled twelve baskets.  When the people saw the sign that he had done, they began to say, ‘This is indeed the prophet who is to come into the world.’    When Jesus realized that they were about to come and take him by force to make him king, he withdrew again to the mountain by himself.

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, feed my soul … Amen

Cindy’s Sermonic Meditation … I am really delighted to share this particular passage of Scripture with you for several reasons … First of all, it gives me an opportunity to share my ministry with you. You know, I love the United Methodist Church but it is an institution … which means its structure can be really confusing! In the United Methodist Church, there are 2 orders of ordained clergy. I am a Deacon, appointed primarily beyond the local congregation to develop a ministry of spiritual formation that connects the church and the world to one another. I am appointed only secondarily in a local congregation to assist in worship and other areas as I’m asked. An Elder and Deacon are both ordained to Word, preaching/teaching and living the Word of God and to Service, serving the needs of the others in whatever way we are gifted. Elders are further ordained to Order and Sacrament which means they are responsible to order and administrate the life of the Church which includes consecrating the communion elements for distribution in the body of Christ and baptizing persons to initiate their life in the Church Universal and the local congregation. A stole is a sign of the ordained. The Elder wears a stole around the neck … a symbol of being “yoked to God and the Church.” I wear my stole to the side … that is a symbol of the towel that Jesus wrapped around his body as he washed the feet of the disciples. I, as a Deacon, am further ordained to Compassion and Justice which means I am responsible to “suffer with” the people in the church universal AND in the world (compassion) and to “make things right” for the people in the church universal AND in the world (justice). I confess that I find the work of compassion much easier than the work of justice … and THAT is how I want to walk into the Scripture. The second reason I’m delighted to share this passage of Scripture is that I get to talk about compassion and justice.

In the Gospel of John, Jesus is engaged in a powerful “curing/healing” ministry of compassion and because of this, he is being followed by crowds of people. Of course, the crowds don’t really care who Jesus is, they just want Jesus to cure their illnesses and heal their lives. Perhaps they can see no further than their own physical needs and worldly desires. Living on the margins, perhaps they cannot even see their need for justice. They just want out!

At the same time, Jesus is also engaged in a powerful ministry of justice as he confronts unjust and inflexible interpretations of the Law. Because of this, he is followed and threatened by the religious people residing in power. So, on the other hand, the people in power want him to stop curing people because he is drawing power and glory away from them and their way of ordering people’s religious lives. At the same time, they were courting the Roman government in order to secure their power and Jesus was causing trouble for them. Perhaps they are looking no further than their own materialistic greed and their lust for power.

People haven’t changed much have they? I can find myself on either side of this dilemma on any given day. Because we are human beings, we suffer from the human condition and from living out certain circumstances. As a woman, I believe that I suffer from gender discrimination and at times in my life I have found myself residing on the margins of life. On the other hand, as a white person, I believe that I benefit from the power that comes with white privilege.

So, here we are, dropping in on Jesus after he has cured a man on the Sabbath, engaged in a confrontation with Jewish officials, traveled from Jerusalem across the Galilee Sea and gone up a mountain with the disciples for a little peace and quiet. And how long does that last? Not long! “A large crowd kept following [Jesus] because they saw the signs that he was doing for the sick”. The crowd arrived, Jesus looked up and he saw the physical need of the people. With compassion, he turns to the disciples and gives them both a challenge and an opportunity. Jesus says, ‘Where are we to buy bread for these people to eat?’ He challenges them with an impossible task!

Let’s stop here for a moment and have a time for pondering …

What are the real physical needs that people in your neighborhood have? What do you see? What causes your sense of compassion to rise up within you? So … how are you going to meet that need? Is that an impossible task? So … when the disciples are faced with an impossible task, what was their first reaction? They thought about the monetary cost … it will cost too much. And then … there was a lone disciple who recognizes the generous spirit of a little boy with 5 loaves and 2 fish. That boy probably offered all he had.

Jesus holds out his hands, takes the gift, gives thanks for it, and then gives and gives and gives until all are satisfied and still there are broken pieces and fragments. Jesus says ‘Gather up the fragments left over, so that nothing may be lost.’ And here is where things begin to shift for me in this passage ... and for the people too! “When the people saw the sign…” The Greek word semeion {say-mi'-on} which is translated “signs” can also be translated “miracles.” In John's Gospel, a “sign” is used to signify who Jesus is. In this miraculous feeding, the people see the sign and it signifies to them that Jesus is "the prophet who is to come into the world." And still, they want more. They want to make him king so that they can continue to be provided for. And what does Jesus do now? He disappears! For Jesus is not simply a prophet or even a king in the human realm. Jesus is “the Bread of Life.”

I hope you’ll come back next week when we study Jesus, the Bread of Life, in the context of the Sacrament of Holy Communion … until then, I invite you to ponder this question:

How is Jesus the Bread of your Life?

Sermon preached at Ashford UMC on Sunday, July 29, 2012