Living in Jesus’ Way

Morning: Psalm 72; Genesis 22:1-18; Hebrews 11:23-31

Evening: Psalm 119:73-96; John 6:52-59

Today’s Gospel reading has more about Jesus himself being “real food” … those who “eat (his) flesh and drink (his) blood” will live well.  Of course, this is not about cannibalism, but about fully taking on board, in our very being, who Jesus is and what he represents. Everyone who does so, he says, will enjoy a transformed life.  Jesus is probably the greatest transformative figure in human history.  It’s not such a long stretch to suggest that if we live in his Way – more than that, if his Way lives in us – our lives will be rich beyond measure.

What God is like matters to me

Morning: Psalms 61, 62; Genesis 21:1-21; Hebrews 11:13-22

Evening: Psalm 68; John 6:41-51

The Gospel story - Jesus dying in opposition to unjust power - invites me to believe that there is a God who is compassionate, alongside us in our struggles to build a world of justice and peace.  This is bread for me;  it satisfies my hunger ... this wild and wonderful thought that we are not alone, and that we are called to make sure no one else is alone either.  Compassion is not a bad guide for a life.  I’ll go with it, as best I can.

Bread of Life

Morning: Psalms 56, 57, 58; Genesis 19:1-29; Hebrews 11:1-12

Evening: Psalms 64, 65; John 6:27-40

Do you know what it’s like to be with someone, or a group of people – maybe for a meal, maybe simply being together – and just their company, their presence, feeds your soul?  You savour the moments with them; you feel yourself being nourished and relaxing the way you do when you come home at the end of a stressful day?  Jesus called himself the Bread of Life, who satisfies your deep hunger and thirst, who fills you the way not even the Blue Plate Special can.  He wants us to be ‘bread’ like this for one another.

The Quiet Revolution

Morning: Psalms 24, 29; Genesis 18:16-33; Galatians 5:13-25

Evening: Psalms 8, 84; Mark 8:22-30

Jesus heals a blind man - outside of town. He doesn’t want the healing to be known.  Later, walking north from Galilee to Caesarea Philippi (about 35 miles), Jesus asks his disciples if they know who he is.  Peter says, “The Anointed,” which means, the One they are waiting for to come and deliver them.  But Jesus says, “Tell no-one.”  Already, they can see that things will not go the way they imagine.  This Messiah offers a transformation of the heart, not a political coup.  Changed hearts are like a blind man seeing!  Lasting change comes from within.

The joys in my life … like winter!

Morning: Psalm 55; Genesis 18:1-16; Hebrews 10:26-39

Evening: Psalms 138, 139; John 6:16-27

Where’s the joy in life?  I love it when Lake Huron freezes over because I get to walk on water!  Just after Jesus ‘feeds the 5000’, here’s another miracle – he walks on water.  Jesus says, though, that I only care about miracles when they provide something tangible, like bread.  Instead, Jesus invites me to look for intangible soul-food that is truly life-giving.  Wanting miracles keeps me searching for ‘magic bullet solutions’ to my problems … so I become unprepared for the effort that my challenges demand of me, and I’m unsurprised by the joys that life already offers.  Like winter!

The generosity miracle that satisfies your own soul

Morning: Psalms 40, 54; Genesis 17:15-27; Hebrews 10:11-25

Evening: Psalm 51; John 6:1-15

Someone has suggested that, when Jesus fed the 5000, the miracle was that a young boy’s generosity inspired a tsunami of generosity.  Others shared their food too, so all were fed.  We need not insist on some greater miracle.  Can you imagine a greater miracle than the 1% who ‘own’ 82% of the world’s wealth, or the 42 individuals who hold more wealth than the world’s poorest 50% … sharing it!?  In response to a miracle like that, we would just marvel and give thanks.  Giving generously out of your abundance helps others, but it also satisfies your own soul.

Not the right person for the job … are you sure?

Morning: Psalm 19; Isaiah 45:18-25; Philippians 3:4b-11 
Evening: Psalm 119:89-112; Acts 9:1-22

How do you know who’s the right person for the job?  St. Paul’s Damascus Road ‘interview with Jesus’ was like recruiting a dictator to lead a human rights campaign … or a Tar Sands executive to fight climate change!  Interviewers look for prior success in the skills they’re recruiting for.  Paul had successfully persecuted Christians, but he became as passionate promoting the Way of Jesus as he had been persecuting it.  You may think someone’s not cut out for a task; you may think you’re not.  But expect transformation – in yourself and others.  Miracles do happen!  The ‘blind’ see!