Pentecost 12

The Reverend Martha Frances

Year B, Pentecost 12, Proper 16

23 August 2009 

Text:  John 6: 56-69

Others: I Kings 8: (1, 6, 10-11) 22-30, 41-43; Psalm 84; Ephesians 6: 10-20 

      David had wanted to build a temple to worship God & for housing the Ark of the Covenant, but God made it clear that the temple was not to be built by David but rather by Solomon, his son.  Now, in today's reading, Solomon has completed the temple, & as he stands before God's altar, he prays that God will keep the covenant made with David to continue to have members of David's family rule Israel. 

      Solomon's wisdom shows itself as he realizes that God is greater than this temple just built, yet he asks that God bless this place of worship & be present to those who worship here. Our psalm for today celebrates the temple & the joy of having a place to worship, perhaps coming from this historical period. In addition, Solomon is open to foreigners' worshipping at the temple as he envisions all the peoples of the earth worshipping God here.  Solomon characterizes God's promises as covenant, & even today, we are called to respond to God's offer of covenant.

      A covenant is a solemn binding agreement freely entered into by 2 or more parties, typically including terms, oaths, & some sort of ritual such as a sacrifice, a meal, an exchange of tokens, or even a handshake. Throughout Judeo-Christian history, God has initiated covenants which we humans have responded to in varying degrees, & we also make covenants with each other.  We all know, however, how difficult it can be for us to fulfill what is required of us.  Remember when we renew the Baptismal Covenant, we declare that we WILL fulfill each of the vows, but we add, ". . . with God's help." 

      Such a dilemma confronted the disciples—& confronts us—in today's gospel.  Last week, we explored Jesus' command that the disciples must eat his flesh & drink his blood if they want eternal life.  Jesus makes a strong case for being part of a community who share the Lord's Supper together as the surest sign of our unity with him.  Last week we talked about Jesus' urging us to both form & strengthen community by coming frequently to the communion table & receiving the body & blood of Jesus.  However, Jesus doesn't tell us that all our problems will be magically solved by our taking communion each week.  If that were true, we wouldn't be able to fit all the communicants into this nave.

      The hard saying that Jesus hears the disciples grumbling about is his insistence that he is the life-giving revelation from God & will return to God's right hand.  The Jewish people are unhinged when Jesus claims to be the Son of God for they consider that arrogant.  Much like the Hebrews from old, many of the 1^st century Jewish people can't get past their unbending tradition & their own insistence that God cannot appear in human form, providing the salvation for which they yearn.  They have been looking for a prophet, but Jesus comes as Messiah, the Son of God.  They have been looking for a military rescuer, but he comes as the Prince of Peace.  For many, this is simply too great a challenge to their long-held beliefs.

      Jesus has offered them a choice, a turning point in their lives, sort of like the covenant which God had continually offered the children of Israel.  Jesus wants to covenant with them, & the ritual to affirm that commitment is eating his body & drinking his blood.  Many turn away because they cannot trust this new way of believing.  Jesus' ministry has been very popular up until now, & crowds have come to him to see & receive his sign & wonders, but now many think he's just asking too much.  Furthermore, he's not behaving the way they expect the Messiah to act.

        Jesus tells them that the Son of Man must ascend to God & that the Spirit who comes gives life.  The Greek word for the life the Spirit offers is "zoe." Zoe doesn't mean life's duration like just living a long time but means joyful & abundant life, life that matters enough that you want to live it.  Jesus offers a quality of life through the Spirit which surpasses just putting in more than average years.

      Can you imagine the despair & disappointment Jesus feels when he asks the 12, "Do you also wish to go away?"  By this time, many have turned away from the Covenant that God grants them through Jesus.  So many have refused to believe all they must do is love God with all their heart, soul, & mind & love their neighbor as themselves.

      Peter, who often answers for all the disciples, responds, "Lord, to whom can we go?  You have the words of eternal life.  We have come to believe & know that you are the Holy One of God."  This isn't one of Peter's most enthusiastic responses, for he actually says, "Where else do we have to turn, Jesus?  We've thrown in our lot with you, & we don't have a Plan B."  But you know what?  That's enough.  Peter has accepted the condition for belief that the New Covenant requires.  And he has spoken for the 12.

      Jesus calls us to believe also, & to continue to grow in that belief.  We talk of this as continual conversion, & we never grow too old for it.  Jesus asks us to make a choice, to turn around, to love God with all our heart & soul & mind.  How do we show that love?  We worship God on a regular basis, support our worship community, & love our neighbors as ourselves.  We fulfill our part of the bargain, not alone, but in the Christian community.  What is the ritual, the process we go through?

      Most Christians become part of the faith community through the sacrament of baptism.  Jesus was baptized by John the Baptizer, & ever since Jesus initiated the rite, it has been the way we become Christians.  We will have baptisms again on All Saints' Day, 1 November, in case you want to be included or to have your child baptized.  Please check with me soon so we can schedule the baptismal preparation class. 

      Those who have already been baptized, even as infants, don't need to be baptized again.  Regardless of what you thought about baptism then or what you've done since, God did it just right the first time.  If you are now ready to respond to the gift & grace of baptism which Christ offers you, the way to become a member of the Episcopal Church is by the sacramental rite of Confirmation.  Confirmation is the mature sacrament by which you accept your baptismal responsibility of living as an adult Christian.  Bishop High will come to Hope for Confirmation in December which is a great opportunity for you to be confirmed or received or simply to reaffirm your baptismal vows.  Please sign up for our class at the Ministry Fair next week for we will begin Discovery Class soon.  Anyone who wants to learn more about the Episcopal Church is welcome to join our classes.  Of course, those who have already been confirmed may ask us to request your membership be transferred to this parish.

      How do we continue to grow in our walk with Christ?  Well, that's why we have a Christian community?  Think about it: if God needed the community of the Father, Son, & Holy Spirit, then it makes sense that we need a community, too. We aren't created to live alone.  We're supposed to develop our faith in a Christian community where we can praise God together & learn from & strengthen each other.  We have the awesome & amazing opportunity to break the bread & drink the wine, being strengthened by Christ's own flesh & blood.  The Holy Eucharist is the ritual through which we renew our covenant with God through Christ often.  By pouring over God's Word & taking his body & blood into us, we learn in the community to fashion our lives after the life & mind of Christ. 

      Next week, we have the opportunity to continue to God in Christ's love within the Christian community.  We will be able to choose what groups & ministries we will commit to this year at the Ministry Fair.  Please pray this week for God's guidance as you covenant with your church community for this next academic year.