A Poem a Sunday

Tenth Sunday after Pentecost

August 2, 2015

Commentary:  We now begin a long discourse by Jesus regarding the 'Bread of Life.'  John's Gospel is an argument with the Jewish community which begins to distinguish and separate Jesus and his followers from their Jewish roots.  How is Jesus to be received?  The 'I AM' statements make it clear about his connections with Yaweh.  Christ is more than manna.  He is the bread that gives eternal life.

Eternal life is code language in John for life here and now in Christ.

John 6:24-35 - New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

²⁴ So when the crowd saw that neither Jesus nor his disciples were there, they themselves got into the boats and went to Capernaum looking for Jesus.

²⁵ When they found him on the other side of the sea, they said to him, “Rabbi, when did you come here?” ²⁶ Jesus answered them, “Very truly, I tell you, you are looking for me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves. ²⁷ Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures for eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For it is on him that God the Father has set his seal.” ²⁸ Then they said to him, “What must we do to perform the works of God?” ²⁹ Jesus answered them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.” ³⁰ So they said to him, “What sign are you going to give us then, so that we may see it and believe you? What work are you performing? ³¹ Our ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written, ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’” ³² Then Jesus said to them, “Very truly, I tell you, it was not Moses who gave you the bread from heaven, but it is my Father who gives you the true bread from heaven. ³³ For the bread of God is that which^[a] comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” ³⁴ They said to him, “Sir, give us this bread always.”

³⁵ Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.

A Poem a Sunday

“Sir, give us this breads always.”  St. John 6:34

Bread:

        - the common loaf

        - our sustenance

        - our daily hope

Bread:

        - 795 million unfed

        - unsecure

        - living in dread

Bread:

        - not only a common loaf

        - but dignity

        - being a host

Bread:

        - the family gathered at table

        - or friends at feast

        - a host for neighbors

Bread:

        - you and I are able

        - to host and feed

        - expand God’s table

Bread:

        - Eucharist for daily need

        - with grateful hearts let us proceed

        - to share our fish and loaves

Bread:

        - the kind God will multiply

        - for God intends no one to die

        - but all be gathered

“Sir, give us this bread always.”

Kenn Storck / A Poem a Sunday / July 28, 2015