Thirteenth Sunday
after Pentecost (Proper 15B)
John 6.51-58
St. Gregory’s, Long Beach
Live Streamed
on Parish Facebook page (beginning at 21:05)
Throughout the “Bread of Life Discourse” which we have been examining
the last couple of weeks, Jesus’ comments become increasingly provocative, to
say the least:
“Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the
food that endures for eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you” (Jn
6.27).
“I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will
never be hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty” (Jn 6.35).
“I am the bread that came down from heaven” (Jn 6.41).
“I am the living bread that came down from heaven.
Whoever eats of this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give
for the life of the world is my flesh” (Jn 6.51).
This last statement being the bridge between last week’s Gospel
reading and today’s. A statement that certainly causes a great deal of
consternation, if not revulsion, on the part of his original audience, who by
now are pretty agitated. And rightly so because of the cannibalistic
implications of the most recent pronouncements. As if that is not enough, as if
he couldn’t get any more provocative, Jesus takes it to a whole other level:
“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.” The idea of eating human flesh was
disgusting enough. But adding to that the idea of “drinking his blood” was
beyond the pale. The idea of consuming blood—the blood of any animal—was a
transgression of the most fundamental taboos in Jewish dietary laws. Laws given
by God himself. So not only is the very notion just so unthinkable and
repulsive, to have such words uttered by a man claiming to be sent by God, to
have come down from heaven, was just over-the-top. And yet, he keeps going from
there. “Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood have eternal life, and I will
raise them up on the last day.” Further explaining. And undoubtedly, further
upsetting his audience.
Read more!