Sermon B 13 Pentecost 16 Proper 26 August 2012

1 Kg 8: [1,6,10-11] 22–30, 41– 43; Ps 84; Eph 6:10–20; JN 6: 56–69

Happy are we who dwell in your house! We will always be praising you! O Lord of hosts, happy are we who put our trust in you. AMEN.

Today we have another facet of John’s Bread of Life discourse in this Mark year. This week, this phrase leapt out at me. “It is the spirit that gives life; the flesh is useless.” The week was filled with men discussing again—in political situations—what women should or may do with their own bodies, and with our deep sadness for Michael Harnois’ death. While our flesh is often a burden, I don’t it has to be named “useless” too. “Bah,” I say, and “fie.” So much bad theology has risen from that sentence and thought, and yet it cannot be God’s attitude, intention, or way, or why bother with Creation at all? God created people in God’s own image, and saw that it was good. That’s our elemental reality and our place to start; flesh was proclaimed as both made in God’s own image and as good.

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...

Sermon: B 12 Pentecost 15th Proper 19 August 2012

1 Kgs 2:10-12,3:3-14; Ps 111; Eph 5: 15-20; JOHN 6: 51-58

Hallelujah! I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart. AMEN.

Since we’ve been listening to John’s Bread of Life discourse, I’ve kept the image that’s been with these Meditations on my desktop. I don’t know whether it’s the two, egg-brushed shiny loaves with the budded (or bottony) stubby crosses sitting on each, or the brightly colored, geometrically patterned plate itself that draws me in. “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 forever.” It’s the bright image that reminds me of the double point John makes, of Jesus as the bread of life, while some around Jesus neither sees him, nor the bread, as that which promises and delivers eternal life. The more cheerful and well made the bread and its plate is, in some ways, the harder it is to see it as a mystery, and not just an attractive plate.

Sermon B 11 Pentecost 14 Proper 12 August 2012

This is the day the Lord has made, let us rejoice &… AMEN

Jesus said, “I am the bread of life. Your ancestors ate manna from heaven 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 forever, and the bread that I will give for the life of the world in my flesh.”

Sermon: B 10 Pentecost Proper 13 August 5 2012

 2 Sam 11:26-12:13a; Ps 51: 1-13; Eph 4: 1-16; JN 6:24-35

This is the day the Lord has made, let us rejoice… AMEN

As I was writing, I had the Meditation’s splendid image of bread on a Mexican painted ceramic plate with me. The bread’s a risen, glazed loaf with a cross of bread worked onto its top, and a small, almost roll-size one too. The plate has a cobalt blue and white edge, and a large 8-pointed star filling the circle. It’s outlined in gold-yellow, and its points are cross-hatched with blue and white squares filled with red dots. There’s more geometric and leaf painting to fill the plate with joy and color, but a picture really is worth a 1000 words. The bread sits on the center’s design of stylized leaves, so that the bread appears as the fruit of its vine, the flower of its plant.