John 6 : 51 - 58
51-52 I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats of this bread will live forever, 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?"
53-58 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 the ancestors ate, and they died. But the one who eats this bread will live forever."
REFLECTIONS:
Thoughts from John:
This is our fourth week reflecting on bread… and Jesus as bread. But just when I thought I’d get it easy, Jesus has to go and turn the metaphor into a weird statement about eating his real flesh and blood. (Unfortunately, there was no seminary lesson on this one).
I won’t claim to know all that Jesus intends to mean here. But I will tell you that this Jesus tradition is insistent on nothing if not the claim that the infinite God of the Universe really did inhabit human flesh and human blood. And so God is not distant nor separate from this human experience. God is human. And so is God’s salvation.
I’m so proud of this community we call Church at the Park, because here I find God’s salvation in flesh and blood. I see real people serving real people. And as a result, real people are restored to health. and find a job. and reestablish family. and create stability. and choose sobriety. and make friendships. and secure a home. and given life.
God’s salvation made real. As real as the people and the bread on our plates.
PRACTICE:
Outward Mindset Application
Before making a decision this week, consider: who will be impacted by this choice?
Check in with that person(s) and ask for their wisdom before landing on your decision.
Non-Violent Communication Question of the Week
This week when you start to feel big emotions well up inside of you, pause to acknowledge them and offer yourself empathy for being a normal human. Then ask: How can I express these emotions safely and kindly to another person?
Pathways toward Centeredness
Caregiving (Loving God through compassion and service for others):
Is there anyone in your life who could use some encouragement? Write a kind note and mail it to them!
Questions for Reflection
When are you so satisfied that your experience feels like heaven on earth?
“Liturgy” refers to the habits and practices humans use to form community around shared values and meaning. At Church at the Park, we desire to be a community of practice, becoming people who see the world through the eyes of the marginalized, making meaning through the lens of pain and suffering, and committing ourselves to non-violence in a wounded world. This weekly email is intended to provide pathways of practice for becoming the type of people who embody these values.
Many of our reflections on each week's text come from other sources. If you're interested in reading more of what inspires us, here our our two favorite reflections.
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