Editor’s note: This is the ninth of many scheduled Lectionary Living columns to be written by clergy in the Diocese of Central Florida.

Reflection for Sunday, Aug. 19, 2018

John 6:51-58

Jesus said, “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.”

The Jews then disputed among themselves, saying, “How can this man give us his flesh to eat?” So Jesus said to them, “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. Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood have eternal life, and I will raise them up on the last day; for my flesh is true food and my blood is true drink. Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood abide in me, and I in them. Just as the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so whoever eats me will live because of me. This is the bread that came down from heaven, not like that which your ancestors ate, and they died. But the one who eats this bread will live forever.”

Just as it was for the hearers when Jesus spoke these words originally, these are very difficult words to hear. They are shocking and hard on our ears. It sounds like cannibalism!

Let us think for a moment about the original readers of this gospel. The Gospel of John is written for Christians, believers who know the whole story. John interestingly does not include the institution of the Lord’s Supper in his gospel account. Is this John pointing to and referencing that moment that Matthew, Mark and Luke describe in detail? John’s chronology stands apart from the other Gospels as he is telling the story of Jesus in a different way, still true in every detail with a high Christology, rich metaphors and numerous personal encounters. Could this be John’s way of telling of the Institution of the Lord’s Supper? Possibly.

We, as the early Christians, can hear this discourse with the context of Holy Communion. It speaks of a union with Christ, to partake of and join with Him, to abide and discover life. It is an invitation to step out of the temporal and into the eternal; to uncover, meaning, purpose and reason for our earthly pilgrimage.

When I read this, what I hear is, Jesus not talking about bread; (flour, yeast, water, salt, and oil). He is talking about that which comes down from heaven, namely Himself. It is proclaiming the incarnation afresh, the Word became flesh and dwelt among us. Or as The Message version of the Bible expresses it … The Word became flesh and blood, and moved into the neighborhood.

Jesus came to offer Himself, to redeem and save humanity, to seek and save the lost. He is offering that which will nourish the heart, mind, soul and spirit of a person. In this offering, Jesus is offering life. The gospel ultimately is a life or death issue.

Recently, I was asked to go visit Mary, she was in hospice and nearing the end of her earthly life. Her friend that asked me to go was not sure of Mary’s spiritual condition. When I went to see her I was expecting a conversation, what I discovered was that she had gone “downhill” rather quickly and she responded physically only to light as when it was turned on in her room, her eyes rolled and looked away.

So, I sat with Mary. I asked if I could take her hand and say a prayer; she did not, could not refuse, so I did. I prayed a prayer of comfort, for Jesus to come and make Himself known to her.  I got the impression that though she could not respond to me verbally, she was present enough, that in her heart and mind she could exercise faith.

The next thing I did may seem weird, but I felt prompted by the Holy Spirit. I stood up and preached to Mary. I told her about being created in God’s image, about the fall and sin, about being separated from God. I spoke of God’s love, sending Jesus, quoting John 3:16.  I spoke of the passion, the cross and death of Jesus, His mighty resurrection and glorious ascension! I invited her to believe the Gospel, to believe in Jesus, to repent of her sin and ask for forgiveness.  I ended with speaking about heaven and the wonderful place Christ was preparing for all His sheep. I took her hand and prayed again, for her to know Jesus.

I discovered the next day that within a couple of hours of my visit that Mary left this life. I cannot know for sure and I may be wrong, but every fiber of my being says that she met Jesus while I was there. Maybe she already knew Him, and simply hearing the encouraging word of the Good News gave her permission to let go. It was a Life and Death moment and I believe death was conquered again! The Bread of Life came down in that moment for Mary and He comes down for all of us inviting us into life-giving relationship, to partake of Him.

The Rev. Jon Davis PhD is well known in our diocese as the former Canon for Youth, a church planter, and most recently the Executive Director of Canterbury Retreat and Conference Center in Oviedo. Father Jon is now on staff with Fresh Expressions (www.freshexpressionsus.org) and is leading and developing The Abbey Mission, (www.theabbeymission.org), a Fresh Expression of church in East Seminole County. You can contact him at:  jon@freshexpressionsus.org