Year B
Proverbs 9:1-6
Psalm 34:9-14
Ephesians 5:15-20
John 6:51-58<\/p>\n\n\n\n
May the words of my mouth O God\u2026 speak your truth\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This morning\u2019s Gospel\u2026 presents us with one of Jesus’ most profound and mysterious teachings\u2026 he says\u2026 I am the living bread that came down from heaven\u2026 whoever eats this bread will live forever\u2026 this bread is my flesh\u2026 which I will give for the life of the world<\/em>\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n Even after we’ve heard these words many times\u2026 they’re still difficult to grasp\u2026 and they seem somewhat ghoulish\u2026 Jesus is speaking about eating his flesh and drinking his blood\u2026 an image that was shocking to his listeners then\u2026 and if we think about it just a little\u2026 and I’m confident that many of us have\u2026 is not only shocking to us\u2026 but can evoke images of vampires\u2026 and zombies\u2026 and remember… according to Jewish dietary laws\u2026 the consumption of blood was strictly forbidden\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n But as we look deeper into this teaching\u2026 we can find profound truths about the nature of life\u2026 the power of transformation\u2026 and the way we are called to live as followers of Christ\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n We\u2019ve all heard the saying\u2026 You are what you eat<\/em>\u2026 it\u2019s a phrase that reminds us about how important it is to nourish our bodies with healthy food\u2026 and it was first made popular in the 1942 book by the same title\u2026 written by Victor Lindlahr\u2026 but beyond its physical implications\u2026 this saying holds a deeper\u2026 spiritual truth as well\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n When Jesus invites us to eat his flesh and drink his blood\u2026 he is not speaking of physical nourishment\u2026 but of a deeper spiritual reality\u2026 he’s inviting us to take his Being into ourselves\u2026 to allow his life\u2026 his love\u2026 and his Spirit to become integrated… and made one with ours\u2026 because just as the food we eat becomes part of our physical bodies\u2026 the spiritual food we receive in Christ\u2026 becomes part of our very being too\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n In the Eucharist\u2026 we receive the body and blood of Christ\u2026 and through this sacrament\u2026 we are united with him in a profound way\u2026 ] this union transforms us\u2026 and little by little\u2026 shapes us more and more into his likeness\u2026 ] as we partake of this holy meal\u2026 we are called to become more like Christ\u2026 embodying his love\u2026 his compassion\u2026 and his grace in the world\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n Now\u2026 you might wonder\u2026 what could vampires and zombies possibly have to do with all of this\u2026 these creatures from both folklore\u2026 and popular culture might seem far removed from the sacred mystery of the Eucharist\u2026 but they offer an interesting lens through which we might explore the themes of life\u2026 death\u2026 and transformation\u2026 <\/p>\n\n\n\n Vampires and zombies are often depicted as creatures of the night\u2026 existing in a state that is neither fully alive\u2026 nor fully dead\u2026 they’re creatures who consume others to sustain their existence\u2026 vampires by drinking blood\u2026 and zombies by devouring flesh\u2026 and both are driven by an insatiable hunger\u2026 one that can never truly be satisfied\u2026 and when you are bitten by either one of these creatures\u2026 you become one of them\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n In many ways\u2026 they represent a perversion of the sacramental life that Jesus offers us\u2026 since vampires and zombies feed on others to prolong their own existence\u2026 ] but the life that Jesus offers us through his flesh and blood\u2026 is one that is given freely\u2026 out of love\u2026 Jesus doesn’t take from us\u2026 instead\u2026 he offers himself to us\u2026 invites us into a relationship that is life-giving and transformative\u2026 <\/p>\n\n\n\n The lore of vampires and zombies\u2026 also speaks to the human condition in a way that resonates with the spiritual truths of our faith\u2026 in a world that’s often characterized by consumption\u2026 greed\u2026 and a relentless pursuit of self-preservation\u2026 these figures serve as a cautionary tale\u2026 they remind us of the dangers of living a life that is focused solely on the self\u2026 because when\u2026 what we consume\u2026 whether food or things made in factories\u2026 is done without regard for the toll it can take on others\u2026 and the environment\u2026 when we seek to sustain our own lives by taking from others\u2026 we risk that while we may be alive in body\u2026 we may be dead in Spirit\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n But in contrast to the hollow existence of these creatures\u2026 Jesus offers a different way\u2026 a way that leads to true life\u2026 his is not like the manna that the Israelites ate in the wilderness\u2026 which sustained them for a time\u2026 but ultimately couldn’t prevent their death\u2026 we could even say that the bread which Jesus offers has the divine spark baked into it\u2026 a spark which gives eternal life\u2026 and those who eat it\u2026 will live forever\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n Jesus\u2019 invitation is an invitation to receive\u2026 not to take\u2026 it’s an invitation to move beyond the superficial existence of consuming for the sake of mere survival\u2026 and to enter into a life of communion with God and with one another\u2026 the bread and wine we consume here are not mere symbols\u2026 this is not just an empty ritual\u2026 but is a real and tangible expression of Christ’s presence with us\u2026 and as we share this holy meal\u2026 we are drawn further into the mystery of his life\u2026 death\u2026 and resurrection\u2026 and we are reminded that in Christ\u2026 life conquers death\u2026 love overcomes hatred\u2026 and light dispels darkness\u2026 <\/p>\n\n\n\n We may not have flashy experiences when we receive this bread and wine\u2026 but it is a means of transformation\u2026 when we receive\u2026 we are drawn into deeper communion with God\u2026 and we are empowered to live as Christ\u2019s body in the world\u2026 and that’s why this transformation is not just about our individual lives\u2026 but is also about the life of the world\u2026 ] as we gather around the Table\u2026 we are united with one another in a bond of love and fellowship\u2026 and we’re reminded that we are part of something much greater than ourselves\u2026 that we are called to be God’s hands and feet in the world\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n And when we begin to understand it this way\u2026 the Eucharist is both a gift\u2026 and a challenge\u2026 it’s a spiritual gift\u2026 in that it nourishes us\u2026 sustains us\u2026 and draws us closer to God\u2026 but it’s also a challenge\u2026 calling us to live out the implications of this sacrament in the details of our individual and our collective lives\u2026 we are called to be what we eat\u2026 ] to embody the love\u2026 compassion\u2026 and grace of Christ\u2026 in all that we do\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n In a world that’s often driven by having more and more things\u2026 sacramental living offers a counter narrative\u2026 because we are called to live lives of gratitude\u2026 humility\u2026 and service\u2026 and as we reflect on the mystical significance of this meal\u2026 we’re asked to remember that all of life is infused with the presence of the Divine\u2026 but it can be difficult to perceive that divinity\u2026 and that we’re called to respond to that presence with reverence and love\u2026 and to re-cognize Christ in the faces of those we meet\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n In a commentary on this passage\u2026 Bp. Satterlee wrote\u2026 The words “flesh” and “blood” point to the cross\u2026 where Jesus\u2019 flesh will be broken\u2026 and his blood will be spilled\u2026 ] his death on the cross\u2026 is the moment when he gives his whole self\u2026 including his life\u2026 for the life of the world\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n So as we come to this Table\u2026 let’s be open to the mystery of Christ’s presence\u2026 let’s receive with gratitude\u2026 knowing that we are nourished and sustained by God’s very life\u2026 and as we leave\u2026 let’s carry a mustard seed of faith with us\u2026 so we can help transform and heal the world\u2026 let’s be living embodiments of love\u2026 grace\u2026 and compassion\u2026 and in the strength of this food\u2026 let’s resist the temptations of a world that seems mostly to consume and take\u2026 and instead\u2026 do what we can to give freely\u2026 as Christ gives to us\u2026 and may we live lives that bear witness to the Bread of Life\u2026 the life that Jesus gives\u2026 Amen.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Year B Proverbs 9:1-6 Psalm 34:9-14 Ephesians 5:15-20 John 6:51-58 May the words of my mouth O God\u2026 speak your truth\u2026 This morning\u2019s Gospel\u2026 presents us with one of Jesus’ most profound and mysterious teachings\u2026 he says\u2026 I am the living bread that came down from heaven\u2026 whoever eats this bread will live forever\u2026 this bread is my flesh\u2026 which I will give for the life of the world\u2026 Even after we’ve heard these words many times\u2026 they’re still difficult to grasp\u2026 and they seem somewhat ghoulish\u2026 Jesus is speaking about eating his flesh and drinking his blood\u2026 an image that was shocking to his listeners then\u2026 and if we think about it just a little\u2026 and I’m confident that many of us have\u2026 is not only shocking to us\u2026 but can evoke images of vampires\u2026 and zombies\u2026 and remember… according to Jewish dietary laws\u2026 the consumption of blood was strictly forbidden\u2026 But as we look deeper into this teaching\u2026 we can find profound truths about the nature of life\u2026 the power of transformation\u2026 and the way we are called to live as followers of Christ\u2026 We\u2019ve all heard the saying\u2026 You are what you eat\u2026 it\u2019s a phrase that reminds us about how important it is to nourish our bodies with healthy food\u2026 and it was first made popular in the 1942 book by the same title\u2026 written by Victor Lindlahr\u2026 but beyond its physical implications\u2026 this saying holds a deeper\u2026 spiritual truth as well\u2026 When Jesus invites us to eat his flesh and drink his blood\u2026 he is not speaking of physical nourishment\u2026 but of a deeper spiritual reality\u2026 he’s inviting us to take his Being into ourselves\u2026 to allow his life\u2026 his love\u2026 and his Spirit to become integrated… and made one with ours\u2026 because just as the food we eat becomes part of our physical bodies\u2026 the spiritual food we receive in Christ\u2026 becomes part of our very being too\u2026 In the Eucharist\u2026 we receive the body and blood of Christ\u2026 and through this sacrament\u2026 we are united with him in a profound way\u2026 ] this union transforms us\u2026 and little by little\u2026 shapes us more and more into his likeness\u2026 ] as we partake of this holy meal\u2026 we are called to become more like Christ\u2026 embodying his love\u2026 his compassion\u2026 and his grace in the world\u2026 Now\u2026 you might wonder\u2026 what could vampires and zombies possibly have to do with all of this\u2026 these creatures from both folklore\u2026 and popular culture might seem far removed from the sacred mystery of the Eucharist\u2026 but they offer an interesting lens through which we might explore the themes of life\u2026 death\u2026 and transformation\u2026 Vampires and zombies are often depicted as creatures of the night\u2026 existing in a state that is neither fully alive\u2026 nor fully dead\u2026 they’re creatures who consume others to sustain their existence\u2026 vampires by drinking blood\u2026 and zombies by devouring flesh\u2026 and both are driven by an insatiable hunger\u2026 one that can never truly be satisfied\u2026 and when you are bitten by either one of these creatures\u2026 you become one of them\u2026 In many ways\u2026 they represent a perversion of the sacramental life that Jesus offers us\u2026 since vampires and zombies feed on others to prolong their own existence\u2026 ] but the life that Jesus offers us through his flesh and blood\u2026 is one that is given freely\u2026 out of love\u2026 Jesus doesn’t take from us\u2026 instead\u2026 he offers himself to us\u2026 invites us into a relationship that is life-giving and transformative\u2026 The lore of vampires and zombies\u2026 also speaks to the human condition in a way that resonates with the spiritual truths of our faith\u2026 in a world that’s often characterized by consumption\u2026 greed\u2026 and a relentless pursuit of self-preservation\u2026 these figures serve as a cautionary tale\u2026 they remind us of the dangers of living a life that is focused solely on the self\u2026 because when\u2026 what we consume\u2026 whether food or things made in factories\u2026 is done without regard for the toll it can take on others\u2026 and the environment\u2026 when we seek to sustain our own lives by taking from others\u2026 we risk that while we may be alive in body\u2026 we may be dead in Spirit\u2026 But in contrast to the hollow existence of these creatures\u2026 Jesus offers a different way\u2026 a way that leads to true life\u2026 his is not like the manna that the Israelites ate in the wilderness\u2026 which sustained them for a time\u2026 but ultimately couldn’t prevent their death\u2026 we could even say that the bread which Jesus offers has the divine spark baked into it\u2026 a spark which gives eternal life\u2026 and those who eat it\u2026 will live forever\u2026 Jesus\u2019 invitation is an invitation to receive\u2026 not to take\u2026 it’s an invitation to move beyond the superficial existence of consuming for the sake of mere survival\u2026 and to enter into a life of communion with God and with one another\u2026 the bread and wine we consume here are not mere symbols\u2026 this is not just an empty ritual\u2026 but is a real and tangible expression of Christ’s presence with us\u2026 and as we share this holy meal\u2026 we are drawn further into the mystery of his life\u2026 death\u2026 and resurrection\u2026 and we are reminded that in Christ\u2026 life conquers death\u2026 love overcomes hatred\u2026 and light dispels darkness\u2026 We may not have flashy experiences when we receive this bread and wine\u2026 but it is a means of transformation\u2026 when we receive\u2026 we are drawn into deeper communion with God\u2026 and we are empowered to live as Christ\u2019s body in the world\u2026 and that’s why this transformation is not just about our individual lives\u2026 but is also about the life of the world\u2026 ] as we gather around the Table\u2026 we are united with one another in a bond of love and fellowship\u2026 and we’re reminded that we are part of something much greater than ourselves\u2026 that we are called to be God’s hands and feet in the world\u2026 And when 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