August 17th Rector's Blog

Dear Parish Family:

"After this many of his disciples turned back and no longer walked with him. So Jesus said to the twelve, "Do you want to go away as well?". Simon Peter answered him, "Lord to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life, and we have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God." (John 6:66-69)

Jesus had just spoken openly about the meaning of his sacrificial death and the implications of a shared life. And the thing that startled his followers into thinking about walking away from him was the seemingly narrow gate required for a further walk with Jesus. They had heard his words: "No one comes to the Father except through me." And previously in verse 65 "This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted him by the Father." The walls of the gate kept closing in, and then the crushing hard saying: "For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink." (John 6:55)

"The once-for-all sacrifice of Christ is the pouring out of his life for the life of the world, bringing forgiveness and a new power of life...The eating and drinking has to do with shared life, mutual indwelling. The laying down of life by a plant or animal for example, is intended to nourish human life. Jesus' death was the ultimate laying down of life; his resurrection, ascension and sending the Spirit bring onto the human scene the new possibility of actually sharing in the life of God as he, the incarnate one, has shared in our life." (Whitacre p. 167-68).

Later at the Last Supper, Jesus would institute the Sacrament of his Body and Blood in the breaking of the bread (of heaven) and the sharing of the cup (of salvation). These gifts of God for the people of God are taken into our bodies - recalling the full life of Jesus on earth, his complete work on the cross, that leads us to eternal life. The physical nourishment of the Eucharist is minimal. The Spiritual nourishment of the Eucharist is everlasting!

Jesus is ultimate - "I am the Alpha and Omega." His grace is sufficient, His sacrifice and shared life are more than sufficient, so he has every reason to confront every follower who claims to believe in him with the question (paraphrasing here) Do you want to turn and walk away?

Hear these lyrics from the song "Turn and Walk Away" from the '70s band Boston:
"I don't want to lose you
So, it may be too soon, I know
The feeling takes so long to grow
If I tell you today
Will you turn me away
And let me go?
I don't want to lose you"

Well it's more than a feeling to truly believe and enter into a relationship with Jesus. Real belief can take a long time to grow into a shared life in Christ. But the more time you spend in the presence of the Lord, soaking in his Word and speaking with him in prayer, and worshipping him in the beauty of his holiness, makes this life worth living in hope of abundant life in the next.

"To whom shall we go?" Simon Peter asked, and then he answered his own question: "You have the words of eternal life, and we have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God." (vv.68-69) In the unity of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

I think I'll keep walking with Jesus and not look back; how about you?

In his love always,
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