The Thirteenth Sunday after Trinity 25 08 24
OLD TESTAMENT READING: 1 Kings 8.1-6, 10-11,22-30,41-43
NEW TESTAMENT READING: Ephesians 6:10-20
GOSPEL John 6:56-69
Initially after the feeding of the multitudes there were many people who started following Jesus wherever he went. People were so fascinated that they even wanted to make Jesus their king because they could see him as their provider of material needs, They were all drawn to Jesus as he offered bread to eat. However when he started proclaiming that he is the bread from heaven who offers himself to people, it was too difficult for certain of his disciples and they decide that these are too hard to understand and then they decide that they will stop following Jesus. Many have started to go the other way.
It was then that Jesus turns to his twelve disciples and asks them, Do you also wish to go away? Peter responds so beautifully. ‘Lord, to whom can we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and know that you are the Holy One of God.’
This is it. The foundation on which the church stands. The church is the body of people who have come to believe and know that Jesus is the saviour, the Holy one of God. In Jesus we find the words of eternal life. Words that elevates our lives, words that help us to experience the fullness of life. The words of Jesus are the food for our soul. Like Peter we say, where else can we go, you have the words of eternal life. We remember Jesus say, people shall not live by bread alone but by the words that he offers.
In the words of Jesus we find clarity and that helps us to understand the past, the present and the future. The teachings of Jesus gives us hope and in that hope we find peace and joy.
Paul in his letter says, ‘Take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God’. The word of God is the helmet that gives protection as we run the race of life. In a race we can be very focussed on reaching the goal but can be unaware of the hurdles and the hindrances and that is why Paul says the word of God is our helmet that protects s from harm.