August 25, 2024

Fourteenth Sunday after Pentecost

READINGS FOR THE COMING WEEK

First reading and Psalm

1 Kings 8:(1,6,10-11), 22-30, 41-43 Psalm 84

Alternate First reading and Psalm

Joshua 24:1-2a, 14-18 Psalm 34:15-22

Second reading

Ephesians 6:10-20

Gospel

John 6:56-69

The gospel from John:
The bread of eternal life

Jesus said “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.” He said these things while he was teaching in a 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 beginning who were the ones who did not believe and who was the one who 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.”

Sermon
Today Pastor Stevenson in his sermon is comparing a belief out in society versus ours. He says that in 2006 he attended a meeting of scientist and engineering evangelicals. One was Francis Collins, known for the first identification of the human genome. Collins spoke to and told the group of evangelicals that he was converted while hiking in the mountains and experiencing the big sky and terrain. Did he then believe in the body and blood spoke of by Jesus in our gospel reading this week? “God is our creator and Christ His flesh and blood.” In our reading He is saying “Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood abide in me and I in them.” How does John speak of the bread of life? “But the one who eats this bread will live forever.” Some of the disciples found this hard to accept. Jesus asks “What if you see the Son of Man ascending to where He was before?” Pastor continues with interpretation of the gospel ……..

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