Joining for supper
Jock Stein
September 30, 2023
Add to Favourites
Listen to this daily worship
John 6: 51-58 (NRSVA)
51 I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats of this bread will live for ever; and the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh.’
52 The Jews then disputed among themselves, saying, ‘How can this man give us his flesh to eat?’ 53 So Jesus said to them, ‘Very truly, I tell you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. 54 Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood have eternal life, and I will raise them up on the last day; 55 for my flesh is true food and my blood is true drink. 56 Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood abide in me, and I in them. 57 Just as the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so whoever eats me will live because of me. 58 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 for ever.’
Hard to take, now as then
unless you take it whole,
no ifs, no buts, no when
it suits, maybe – just bare your soul,
embrace the food, the Lord
who leads you to your goal.
With humble faith, with one accord,
stretch out your heart and hands
for love and wisdom poured
so freely for all times, all lands.
Just say a glad ‘amen’
as one who understands.
It was G.K. Chesterton who pointed out that Christian faith made sense only if you took it whole, and that includes these words of Jesus about his body being bread and blood for his followers. Protestants prefer to avoid the word ‘becoming’, because of its links with a particular philosophy, but Calvin was very clear, as this passage teaches, that Christ is really present when we share communion.
PRAY:
God our heavenly Father, we give you thanks for this sacrament that we call the Lord’s supper. It gives us no more than what your word gives, but we get it stronger and better and closer. And it brings us into communion with all your people in heaven and earth. It is an internet of glory, surpassing all our frenzied communication. Thank you for giving us time, and times to share this feast with our brothers and sisters. Thank you for giving us room here, and the promise of rooms hereafter to enjoy those things which currently lie hidden from us. How good it is that our sight, our understanding, all our senses will one day be transformed. There is so much more to come, and we bless you for that, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Login to comment.