Sixth Sunday of Easter May 26 2019 called for Shalom

SIXTH SUNDAY OF EASTER  Year C  May 26, 2019

·         Acts 16:9-15  • Psalm 67  • Revelation 21:10, 22-22:5  • John 14:23-29 or John 5:1-9

What does it mean to you, to know that you were chosen in Christ before the foundation of the world?

Just think, you are here in this place now because God chose you before the earth existed.  And then because we are chosen with such purpose, we should also sense we also have a destiny…. And a call.

Last week we reflected on the call of Peter to go and speak to the gentile household, and so, through the week I’ve been challenged to open my mind and eyes to see where God might be calling me in each and every day and situation. 

This week we read that St. Paul had a vision: there stood a man of Macedonia pleading with him and saying, "Come over to Macedonia and help us."  St. Paul’s response was to immediately respond with obedience and set off for Macedonia.  Our Story then takes an unexpected twist in the first town of Macedonia, the town of Phillipi.

Usually when Paul went on his outreach journeys he would go to the synagogue, but this town had no such building.  Apparently, for there to be a synagogue in a town there needed to be 10 married Jewish men.  I’m guessing Phillipi did not qualify and this also tells us something of the spiritual nature of the town, and perhaps more significant is the information that Phillipi was a Roman Colony.  After a significant battle, land was given to Roman military, and so this town was a military settlement, with many people settled there in that place, whose origins where from other places.  Lydia, was one such person, who had come from Thyatira where they were known for a special kind of purple dye. 

Lydia was a Gentile, however she is described as a worshiper of God, which indicates some probable Jewish connection and basic understanding of the Old Testament scriptures. 

On the Sabbath day, in the absence of a Synagogue, Paul went outside the city gate by the river, where he and his group supposed there was a place of prayer.  I’m guessing that they went to pray themselves, … and I’m also guessing that they expected to see the Macedonian man from Paul’s vision, but there was no such person there.  Gathered at the river were a group of women.  They spoke with the women and Lydia responded by requesting that she and her household be baptized.

There is no mention of a husband and yet there is a household.  Lydia insists that the men stay at her place and so it is clear that she has the authority to make these household decisions and is a person of considerable wealth.  Her personal situation other than this we can only speculate.  Some suggested that she was a widow but there is no mention of it to confirm or deny.  We do know that this town was founded differently from other towns and here, women had greater freedom, rights and powers.  

Last week we read about Peter and how it must have blown his mind to have seen the Holy Spirit fall on the Gentiles.  I’m guessing it may have been similar for Paul who had a vision of a man who needed his help, to then see God’s hand in how this woman Lydia accepted the Gospel. 

We humans, tend to put limits on the way God works, but Jesus has said, "Those who love me will keep my word, and my Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them.”  There is no limit on the “who”, except that they are those who love and these are those who God loves.

Lydia was already a worshiper of God.  She needed to know the Good News about Jesus Christ and how the sacrifice of Jesus brings peace.

The peace that Jesus brings would have been translated from the word that we hear as that Jewish greeting, “Shalom”.  Both in saying hello and good-bye, the Jewish people might say, “Shalom”.  We know that it means “Peace”, but what is peace?

The definition of peace is the absence of disturbance, but that is not what Shalom means, and therefore we fall short in understanding if we don’t look closer.

““Shalom” is taken from the root word shalam, which means, “to be safe in mind, body, or estate.” It speaks of completeness, fullness, or a type of wholeness that encourages you to give back — to generously re-pay something in some way.”  https://firm.org.il/learn/the-meaning-of-shalom/

Therefore, Shalom is really nothing to do with the absence of conflict, but to be safe and well in every sense throughout all that life throws our way.  Shalom is about physical, emotional and mental health.  And then it is also about generously giving that physical, emotional and mental health to the world around us. 

Another writer has explained that Shalom is also about a covenant relationship with God.  It involves the Hebraic understanding of salvation, not just that we will go to heaven when we die, but that we have an unbroken, loving relationship with God here on earth. http://www.egrc.net/articles/Rock/HebrewWords/shalom.html

When I realize all that this word Shalom encompasses, I can see that Shalom is a gift of God that is beyond human capacity.  This is what our Gospel reading quotes Jesus saying he gives us.

The Complete Jewish Bible translates it this way, “"What I am leaving with you is shalom -- I am giving you my shalom. I don't give the way the world gives. Don't let yourselves be upset or frightened.”

This passage from the Gospel of John seems to be full of a language that is mysterious.  It hints at some understanding that seems to be in plain sight, yet not quite discerned by the naked eye.  In fact the disciples certainly didn’t understand very much until the coming of the Holy Spirit.

Have you ever noticed that these disciples had the very best teacher, they witnessed many signs and wonders and they were absolutely passionate and loyal to their God, they were baptized and followed Jesus everywhere, and yet they still seemed rather dim and powerless? That is, until the day of Pentecost.

Jesus said to them, "I have said these things to you while I am still with you.

But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything, and remind you of all that I have said to you.”

Jesus knew that the disciples didn’t really understand.   He knew that they simply couldn’t comprehend all that he was telling them and so he promises to send the Holy Spirit.

In the natural a man like Peter would never go to the house of a Gentile and speak and eat.  In the natural Paul would have been still persecuting the Christians in the name of God, let alone be found speaking publicly with women (which, by the way – was not the “done” thing).  We all have our rules that we believe make for a structured and safe life, but with all our rules we can only offer each other a wish for Shalom and never the reality.

Jesus made atonement for us by his sacrifice on the cross and opened the way for us to be in fellowship with God the father, but it is through the Holy Spirit that we have true Shalom.  True Shalom, the completeness and wholeness of who we were destined to be, chosen in Christ before the foundation of the world, is brought about by God making his home in us.  In our natural state we can not completely keep his words – we aspire to, but it is only through the divine living in us that anything is possible and therefore the story of salvation is left mostly powerless until we allow God to pour his Holy Spirit on us.  Shalom is only truly complete with the out pouring of the Holy Spirit.

Major Ian Thomas, a renowned Bible teacher, was often heard to lament, “Most Christians are living in pre-Pentecost poverty when they could be living in post-Pentecost power.”

Our revelation readings have been telling us of the city that God is building.  The city of God is built with true Shalom and it starts with you and me.  It is a whole new way of being because this Shalom is not the “Crossed fingers”, I wish you peace with the absence of disturbance that the world can give.  It is the Shalom that shines with the reality of complete wholeness and wellness that overflows and spreads.  It is a tree of life with various fruit and healing for the nations.  It is our calling and our destiny.

This time between resurrection and Pentecost I liken the disciples to a balloon that has begun to have breath in it.  Jesus has breathed on them and exhorted them to receive the Holy Spirit.  A balloon with just a little air is still a balloon and doing okay.  But the day is coming when the advocate will come and the balloon will become completely full of air – only then is it truly become that for which it is destined.

But where are we on this journey?  Pre-Pentecost poverty or post Pentecost power?  Lord we want Shalom… your peace and wholeness, called to be who you have destined us to be.  Open our eyes to the vision where you are calling us and breathe on us your Holy Spirit.  Holy Spirit let your wind blow and your fire burn.  Ignite us to brightly shine and be a people who bring your peace to a world who desperately need your Shalom.  AMEN.

A new thing - Easter 5 May 19 2019

FIFTH SUNDAY OF EASTER - Year C - May 19, 2019

·      Acts 11:1-18  •  Psalm 148  • Revelation 21:1-6  • John 13:31-35

Most people who know me, know that I sing, and that I sing as an entertainer at venues such as restaurants, cafes and pubs.  What is not such common knowledge is that I come from a family who have not been inclined to walk into pubs.  Maybe it was my father’s influence… I’m not sure, but somehow the younger me was given the impression that it was not the “done thing” for a lady to walk into a public bar.  I might add I have never heard my father swear, but I have heard him talk about times he threatened to hit a bloke for swearing in front of his sister – he was possibly all talk, but sometimes that is all you need to be. 

I tell you this story because it is just a little bit like the account we read in the book of acts where Peter is sent to the Gentile house and his peers are rather suspicious about it all.

Before we can understand just what is going on, we need to realize that in the times of Peter, there were traditions, ways of life that were considered the norm and things you just didn’t do – one of these was to go, as a Jew, to the house of a Gentile – It just wasn’t the done thing.

The Jews were surrounded by people of various nations and beliefs.  Throughout their history God had commanded them about keeping separate.  It was important because God was identifying himself, and making himself known, through the Jewish people.  Therefore He was ensuring clarity about His nature. The people around them had various beliefs and through the intermarrying with these nations the understanding of God sometimes became somewhat skewed. 

It is always important to have enough fear of God to know not to mess with the sacredness of who he really is. 

Peter saw a vision, not once but three times.  This was important because the three times meant that it was God confirming the truth of what Peter was coming to understand.  Not only did the Jews have rules about whose house they could eat in, but they had many rules about what they could eat.

The oldest documented set of rules about food are the Jewish dietary laws.  These are also known as Kashrut, from which the word Kosher is derived.  In the year 2019, when I look at these rules about food in the Bible times I can see that the possible logical reason would be for health and hygiene.  Many scholars agree, but not conclusively.  There was also a spiritual element in the eating of foods, which was part of the religions of the nations around Israel, and this was another aspect that needed clarification and separation.  An example of this spiritual element of food is found in other places in the New Testament when Christian converts are advised to refrain from eating meat offered to demons.

In the scriptures there seems to be some correlation also, with the unclean food and unclean people being of an unclean spiritual nature.  However, even today, acceptable and not acceptable food differs depending on what that we’ve grown up with and become accustomed.

People who are so completely different to us in their customs are a challenge.  With the example of the Old Testament, we can justify that sometimes separation is a good thing.  I really and truly do not want to rub shoulders with a serial killer, and to say that we are all the children of God can be just a little too simplistic and downright dangerous.

Peter was from a people who assumed that there was something a little less than wholesome about the Gentiles.  In fact the customs you and I have now, are more than likely just a bit weird and possibly spiritually wrong as far as those early Jewish Christians were concerned.

But Peter was told in his vision of unclean animals, “get up, kill and eat”.  Then when Peter objected, he was told, “'What God has made clean, you must not call profane.'”.

It was at that moment that a man from Caesarea arrived to ask Peter to come to the house of a Gentile and tell them about Jesus.  Peter then sensed the Spirit’s message to go, and to not make a distinction between the Jew and the Gentile. 

Can you imagine Peter’s surprise when the Holy Spirit fell on those Gentiles?  This must have literally blown Peter’s mind.  Those who were considered spiritually lessor, were given the gift of the Holy Spirit just the same as the Jewish Christians.

Our reading from Revelations 21:5-6 tells us, "See, I am making all things new." Also he said, "Write this, for these words are trustworthy and true." Then he said to me, "It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give water as a gift from the spring of the water of life.” 

The Holy Spirit is the gift from the spring of the water of life.  It was new for the Jewish Christians, but they had all been brought up with the promises of God for His chosen people and this new thing not only empowered them to be the witnesses of Jesus but it affirmed that they were indeed God’s chosen.  Then to hear that the message of salvation was given to the Gentiles there were somewhat suspicious.  Next they heard that the Holy Spirit had also come upon the Gentiles and the concept was so unbelievably new that none of them could easily comprehend it. 

You and I are those outsiders.  Whatever the reason God had for telling the Jewish nation to remain separate was obviously for a time and place – but not forever.  We get very hung up, at times, with trying to figure out the way things should be.  We quote that God is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow – His nature is unchanging and we find it very hard to discern what things can change and what can’t and pretty much, we hate change of any sort.  Our readings today all talk about a NEW thing that God is doing.  God is the same always.  Rest assured though that God’s law did not change.  It was completed by Jesus, and only through him can say, it is done!  These new things that God was doing, were not new to God, only to the people.  There are some things in the Bible that, ensconced in the culture and aspects of that time and place, had to be a certain way… but not forever. 

As an outsider who is now the recipient of God’s grace, I am very grateful for that.  But as now, an adopted part of God’s chosen race, I need to look to see those who I and we perceive to be outsiders and ask if I am doing the same as the critical Jewish Christians who thought Peter had gone astray.  Am I judging someone as unclean or spiritually lessor, when God is actually asking me not to make a distinction?

As a woman, I have traditionally been seen as spiritually lessor….  And I have tried to understand why.  For many years I have been told that God would not have created me a woman and called me into ministry.  Though I honestly tried to accept that, it didn’t seem logical and I could come up with no logical reason for such a view.

We live in interesting times where we need to be asking God for wisdom and even visions.  I feel it is vital that we don’t lose sight of who God is, but I hope that our eyes can be opened to those where he wants us to make no distinction.

There is another new thing that God asks of us.  In our Gospel reading Jesus says, “I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another.  By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another."

We had already been told that love was the fulfillment of the law – to love God and to love your neighbour, so why does Jesus call this, “new”? 

The important part here is the “Just as I have loved you”.  This is a call to love sacrificially.  It means loving when it is hard to do so.  More than anything we need to pray for wisdom and visions, listen to the voice of God, recognising his call to go and do what He would have us do.

Peter was asked to go to a specific person’s house.  Not just any house.  Loving sacrificially means we need to push through fear, but not jump in front of any bus.  We need to go where God calls us and be open to the change he is bringing that will literally blow our minds, but not change simply for the sake of change – that could be to jump in front of a bus, or throw ourselves to the lions.

There is always some fear and discomfort when God does a new thing, but excitement also.  We are to be salt of the earth, but if we simply leave this message of salvation here in the church we are like salt in a salt shaker never moved and sprinkled.  Like Peter we are called to go out and spread the Good News.  The Holy Spirit will confirm when we are in the right place because we will see the fruit… we will see the Holy Spirit fall.  Where are we being called to go? 

It isn’t so hard or so scary after all.  One of the most exciting things in my life is being part of Street Chaplaincy.  We don’t preach, and yet people know we are being the hands and feet of God and we are safely meeting with all kinds of people that are so different from us.  Where is God calling us today?  The first step is always the hardest… but it begins with a willing heart that says, “Yes, Lord, if you lead me, I will go.”

May 12 2019 fourth Sunday of Easter

FOURTH SUNDAY OF EASTER    Year C   May 12, 2019

• Acts 9:36-43  •   Psalm 23  •   Revelation 7:9-17  •   John 10:22-30

What the kids at school know about me, is that I have an imaginary, magical and invisible treasure chest.  At the end of each school music lesson, two children are chosen to receive a prize from the treasure chest.  Believe it or not, the kids love this and if I forget to do it, they soon remind me.  One day a young girl chose a bouncy ball out of the imaginary, magical and invisible treasure chest and on her way back to the class room a boy stole her imaginary ball.  There was a ruckus as they entered the classroom and the teacher demanded to know what was going on and then, after being told that the boy had the girl’s ball, the teacher commanded the boy to give it back.  At this point I had already left the class but overheard the conversation and I laughed, because the whole thing was imaginary.

Often the children will tell me that they snatched my treasure chest from me.  I tell them that they can’t take it.  It belongs to me and stays with me and no one can take it… that is just the way it is.

Similarly Jesus tells us; “My sheep hear my voice. I know them, and they follow me.  I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one will snatch them out of my hand.  What my Father has given me is greater than all else, and no one can snatch it out of the Father's hand.  The Father and I are one."

In these weeks following the Resurrection we’ve read stories that show a tension between faith and doubt.  There are two ways we could look at this Gospel reading.  One way would be to say that those who don’t accept the message of Jesus (those who doubt) are not listening to his voice and therefore not his sheep.  The other way is to focus on those who DO respond to the voice of Jesus.   But either of these could lead us to judgements and incorrect assumptions unless we look at some of the facts… and I actually think the more crucial part of the message just might be that small statement that Jesus repeats; NO one will snatch us out of His or the father’s hand.

This conversation in our Gospel reading, is taking place prior to the crucifixion and resurrection and Jesus was saying, “No one will snatch them out of my hand”. 

Think about it.  This conversation is happening before Peter denied Christ.  This conversation is happening before Thomas doubted.  BUT also keep in mind that this conversation is taking place before the conversion of St. Paul.

At this point in our Gospel account, Jesus was the talk of the town with the miracles that he performed, yet they didn’t believe him to be the Messiah, and they asked him straight out.  Let’s compare this to our story of Tabitha. 

Tabitha was a woman known for her good works.  She died and the believers heard that Peter was nearby.  They sent for him and the result was that Tabitha was again alive…. This become known throughout Joppa and many believed.  Why did people respond with belief through the ministry of Peter, yet failed to be so receptive with Jesus?  At the time of Tabitha, the people would have heard the buzz about Jesus and his resurrection, and they’d have heard of the works and miracles of the followers of Jesus, so it seems that perhaps the evidence was growing and becoming undeniable.

Yet in the time prior… the time between the resurrection and the day of Pentecost, (ie.. the liturgical time we are now celebrating in the church),our attention is drawn to stories of faith and failure, of doubt and proof, and throughout it all we have re-instatement and, most importantly, reassurance…. today I would like to point out that repeated sentence - no one can snatch us out of God’s hand. 

In that period after the crucifixion and before the day of Pentecost, It must have seemed like the followers of Jesus were scattered and lost.  That is what the authorities were hoping.  They hoped that with the crucifixion, all this upheaval and talk of Jesus being the Messiah would simply vanish and that those people would return to their previous way of life.  This is what we all tend to do when we are under pressure and Peter did it when he announced in last week’s readings, that he was going fishing…  we go back to what we’ve known and the things about which we are sure and secure.

To put the story into perspective we need to understand that the message of Jesus actually seemed like heresy to the religious leaders.  There was a huge buzz among the people and it must have seemed like a question of who was actually hearing God’s voice and who was being led astray.  I imagine it would have been rather difficult to know.  After all, is it the sensible thing to go with the traditions that we’ve always had…. Or follow the radical miracle worker? 

Saint Paul when he was still known as Saul the Pharisee, was certain that he was doing God’s work when he set about persecuting the Christians and giving approval to the stoning of Stephen.  So how can we know, even now that we are listening to, and hearing the voice of God, and not some imitation?

Let’s just remember that imitations are designed to deceive and are hard to decipher.  I remember someone telling about expert who are trained to spot counterfeit money.  They spend lots of time studying the REAL thing.  That is all they really need. When you are so completely familiar with the genuine article then it is easy to spot the fake.

Jesus is the good Shepherd and he says that his sheep know his voice.   Have you ever heard someone explain something and it is just like a light bulb goes on?  It’s an “Ah-ha” moment.  That is what I mostly think it is like, to recognise Jesus as the Messiah.  But sometimes we can be simply listening to a voice that is saying what we want to hear – or expect to hear… Is it the voice of God – or does it just sound like His?  We are very familiar with our own voice, but to recognise the voice of God we need to spend time hearing it.

When we read the stories in the Bible we see that the apostles often quoted scripture to explain that Jesus was the Messiah.  They explained the Good News of Salvation by explaining the scriptures, and with the power of the Holy Spirit and the signs and wonders that accompanied, people were convinced.  I can imagine, however, that there must have been great uneasiness along the way – just as there is with any time of great change, and this was really an unparalleled time of change.  In fact, the favourable response to such great change only serves to prove that God was speaking and people were hearing and recognising their creator.

Before the time of Pentecost however, the Jesus, the shepherd had been struck and the sheep were scattered.  Peter had denied Jesus and Thomas doubted – who knows what was going on with numerous others?

How can we make sense of Peter actually denying Jesus?  Peter was the one who had earlier proclaimed Jesus to be the Messiah?  And perhaps a more important question is, are we any better?  We all go somewhat astray and if we don’t, we most likely would if a little pressure was applied.  By the grace of God we live in a place and time where being a follower of Jesus is not so life-threatening, and admitting our Christianity is not such an extreme pressure.

Jesus is the Good Shepherd.  It is vital that we understand that just because we have times of doubt and failure, we are not lost from the flock or snatched away…. But there are times when things prevent us from hearing God’s voice.  In the case of Peter denying Christ, Peter’s fear seemed to be in the driver’s seat, directing his actions. 

If you have ever seen the animated movie, “Inside out”, you might understand how things can go a little off track.  The movie shows the inside of a pre-teen girl’s mind and inside that mind, are characters such as disgust, fear, sadness, joy and anger.  The movie showed how when there is a dominant emotion who rejects the validity of the others things go pear shaped.  In many ways this is what happens to all of us, and when our emotions (for example) of fear, or distrust take over, they can prevent us from hearing God’s voice.  Many of us will build walls around our emotions so that only the ones we deem acceptable can be seen.  But these walls also tend to prevent us from hearing God’s voice – and sometimes it takes a lot of jack-hammering for the voice of God to break through.

Though we may have some - or many - weak moments, where we fail to hear God’s voice, it is important for us to know God is in control and No one can snatch us from God’s hand.

There may be people in our lives to whom we speak about Jesus, but they don’t believe in God and can’t seem to accept the message of Salvation.  It doesn’t necessarily mean that they are not part of Gods flock, but simply that there is something in the way preventing them from hearing God’s voice.  Saint Paul was certainly one who we’d have thought was not part of God’s flock, and there have been many others throughout history, who persecuted Christians, only to have a dramatic turn around when somehow that voice of God broke through.

The early Christians lived in exciting times.  People were raised from the dead and the words of the apostles were proved because there were signs and wonders that followed.  But none of those signs and wonders had Saint Paul convinced.  Saint Paul was an enemy of Christians, and when God spoke to him, the voice was so unfamiliar that Paul had to ask “who are you Lord”. 

Signs and wonders sure are amazing, but the voice of God is everything.

 In our lives, are we looking for signs and wonders or do we listen for the voice of God?

In our own strength, with every fibre of our being convicted of the message of Christ, we can still go astray, so we need to get to know the voice of the Good Shepherd who will not let us be snatched out of his hand. 

I would like to end with a song by Keith Green who wrote about his experience when he finally heard the voice of God, or in his words, God’s love broke through.  “Like waking up from the longest dream… how real it seemed, until your love broke through…”  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J17mM7sZKnQ 

A midweek reflection for 8th May 2019 Don't give up meeting together

Reflection for midweek service 8^th May.   Acts 8:1-8, Ps 66:1-8. John 6:35-40

We are living in interesting times! It seems to be a Global time of extremes where many are passionate about their point of view, and they punctuate their passion with protests and rallies.  Those who stand for peace and love and understanding are sometimes left discouraged and worn out feeling like they are fighting a losing battle…. Or is that just me speaking personally?

Let me introduce myself briefly.  I’m a girl from a devoted Catholic family, who was brought up in a time and culture where it was expected that I’d leave school with minimal education, get a low paying job until finding a mate to marry, and then be a stay at home mum.   Somewhere in the middle of this journey God interrupted and showed me that he was real and that he loved me.  I didn’t fully understand it at the time, but this interruption shaped my adult life where I felt called to ministry from the time I was 18…. But I was just a girl… and I felt powerless and alone.

In retrospect this feeling of powerlessness is probably the feeling of the apostles after the death and resurrection of Jesus, prior to the coming of the Holy Spirit.  There was hope and faith, but then there was the fear of the authorities who had put Jesus to death.  But we must remember that what made all the difference was the coming of the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost. 

Our Gospel reading comes to us from the apostle John and the scene is set where those who were questioning Jesus had witnessed him feeding the 5000 and then the apostles had witnessed him walking on water.  Wow… how much proof do we need to believe?  After all this there were some who still didn’t believe and wanted a sign.  I’m guessing that even Judas, who betrayed Jesus, witnessed all these things, yet still did not believe.  It causes me to ponder, what it is that stops people from believing when God really does give them every opportunity to believe.

What stands out for me, though, is this one sentence found in the Gospel reading: “whoever comes to me I will never drive away”.  We can sometimes get so caught up in working out what is right and what is wrong that we forget the central message of the Gospel.  Gospel means Good News and here it is…. When we come to Jesus he will never drive us away.

Jesus declares that he IS the bread of life.  Just as bread broken and consumed gives life to our mortal bodies, the broken body of Christ – that is, His sacrifice on the cross and resurrection from the dead brings us life…. And that life he imparts to us is eternal life.  This is what we read in our Gospel… Jesus says, “……everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day.”

Today we can choose to accept this message of Salvation.  In fact each time we come to take communion we are offered the opportunity to accept Jesus and eternal life.  It is an action that calls us to remember that Jesus is our bread of life and we come to him and accept him.  It is an action we do so that we remember…. But the reality is much deeper. 

Natural bread is nourishment that’s effect is limited and we need to take it in again and again…. But the reality of the bread that Jesus is, is once and for all.  Jesus died once and for all and it is only because of our human forgetfulness that we need to be constantly reminded.

While we may forget and even go astray, Jesus will never drive us away.  He has said “And this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all those he has given me”.

I’m sure that in the time before the coming of the Holy Spirit and even after, in the time of persecution when St. Paul was still known as Saul, the Pharisee, who was throwing Christians in prison, that it may have felt exhausting and discouraging as though the battle was impossible.  How did these people remain so steadfast in the midst of such persecution?

Those early Christians knew they had the bread of life and nothing could take their eternal life from them.   Neither are we fighting a losing battle. 

 In a very personal way, we often may feel that we have failed.  All humans do.  But over and over the scriptures declare the complete work of Jesus and that nothing can separate us from the love of God.  He will not drive us away and he will not lose us.

We are no longer alone.  Once we’ve accepted the bread of life we are changed.  It isn’t like natural bread that we consume and then become hungry and need to consume again.  The spiritual reality is that we are spiritually transformed and this transformation is permanent.  God is with us and will never drive us away… he will never leave nor forsake us.  We can’t see this change with our earthly eyes, and in our human flesh we forget this spiritual reality, and so we need encouragement to remember and celebrate this deeper truth.

Just like the followers of Jesus, you may feel afraid and discouraged…. But that is why we need each other and to gather together and remember and be encouraged…  And just like the story of the apostles, though everything may look grim, we are not ever alone, but spiritually a transformed people with the same power within us that changed the course of history.

Be encouraged; We are not fighting a losing battle because the battle for our eternal life has already been won.  The only battle is the one within us to remember it.