Meditation for August 23, 2012: “Who is of God’s household?”

Today's Psalm (84) speaks of the Temple. But the larger subject is those who are at home with God — 'who passing through the vale of misery use it for well; and the pools are full of water.' And so Solomon, dedicating the Temple (I Kings 8), blesses its use even by sinners, and in times of calamity, and by the stranger - 'that is not of thy people Israel, but cometh out of a far country for thy name's sake.' Boundaries — who is of God's household — are also a theme of today's Gospel (John 6:56-69). Unlike the inclusive Solomon, Jesus stresses them, deliberately provoking his hearers ' 'he that eateth my flesh...' Today's outburst in John evidently rescued his followers to the Twelve (v.66-7). Today's Second Reading (Ephesians 6:10-20) - equally shocking - unflinchingly insists the true disciple is a soldier, with sword, and shield, and helmet.  He that hath ears to hear, let him hear...

Meditation For Sunday August 19th (Proper 15): Wisdom

Our first reading tells how Solomon asks God for wisdom. Our psalm mentions some of God’s great deeds, and mentions wisdom and praise of God. The epistle advises us to live as wise people, filled with the Spirit, ‘as we sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs among ourselves, singing and making melody to God in our hearts.’ (Church musicians often like this!) All this is well and good, but then we hear one of those mystifying, weird passages from John’s Gospel that seem likely to alienate inquirers…(unless one knows about Holy Communion, and in that setting none of his disciples did, and none of the other Jews did.) Having eternal life, being raised up on the last day, living forever—these are attractive promises intermingled with the strange stuff. How would the wise person deal with all this? Ask God for wisdom about how to share the Good News?