John 6 : 24 - 35
24 Once the crowd realized that neither Jesus nor his disciples were there, they got into the boats and went to Capernaum in search of Jesus.
25 When they found him on the other side of the lake, they asked him, “Rabbi, when did you get here?”
26-27 Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, you are looking for me, not because you saw the signs I performed but because you ate the loaves and had your fill. Do not work for food that spoils, 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.”
28 Then they asked him, “What must we do to do the works God requires?”
29 Jesus answered, “The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.”
30-31 So they asked him, “What sign then will you give that we may see it and believe you? What will you do? Our ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written: ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’”
32-33 Jesus said to them, “Very truly I tell you, it is not Moses who has given you the bread from heaven, but it is my Father who gives you the true bread from heavenFor the bread of God is the bread that comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.”
34 “Sir,” they said, “always give us this bread.”
35 Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.
REFLECTIONS:
Thoughts from Scott:
Jesus’ claims to be “the bread of life.” We traditionally interpret this “eternal life” as something we experience after this earthly life—heaven, the hereafter. I am sure that is part of what Jesus had/has in mind. At the same time, I believe Jesus is also asking us to consider a quality of life that we can have right now. Rich and satisfying life, not just in the hereafter, but in the here. Most of what Jesus says/does in the Bible is focused on how we approach this present life—what we value, what we lift up as most important.
Jesus asks us to consider two different qualities of life: life that perishes, and life that lasts. Musician Bill Mallonee has a song in which he writes “Sold me a wealth of pleasure / it was a dime store full of pain / And this stuff I thought was jewelry / It turns out to be chains.” I’ve had a couple watershed moments in my life when I realized that the things that were so important to me, like career and success, were the things that were suffocating my heart. I was so hungry for something “real” that I was willing to make a major shift in my values and lifestyle.
How do we each find that lasting quality of life that Jesus talks about? I won’t spoil that discovery for you, but I will suggest a starting point. At C@TP, we strive to live by six core values: See People; Build Relationship; Listen Well; Practice Non-Violence; Peacemaking; Practice Servanthood. Each of these values were taught and lived out by Jesus. In my own life, as I strive to in live into these values, I get a deeper taste of a life that satisfies and lasts.
PRACTICE:
Outward Mindset Application
All of us humans long to have significance, meaning, and value. Reflect on a person you regularly interact with and consider them as someone who also has these desires. What might they be and how do those desires show up. What might you do to validate and honor those desires?
Non-Violent Communication Question of the Week
What might this person in front of me need to feel valued and significant?
Pathways toward Centeredness
Set aside time this week to reflect on one or more of the C@TP values (See People; Build Relationship; Listen Well; Practice Non-Violence; Peacemaking; Practice Servanthood). In your mind, revisit a time when you lived out one of these values.
What emotions, physical sensations, or insights come to mind? How might this connect to Jesus’ offer of life that lasts?
Questions for Reflection
Put yourself in the place of the people who are following after Jesus for physical bread. How, in your expectations of God and/or life, might you sometimes “miss the point”?
What kind of emotions and desires does Jesus’ promise of “life” stir in you? What might “the food that endures to eternal life” mean for you in your current experience?
In verse 29, Jesus said , “The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.”What does that mean for you? What does living that out look like for you?” How might that give you strength and encouragement in this week?
“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.
Copyright (C) 2023 Church at the Park. All rights reserved.