Sermon – 08-18-24 – Proper 15 – Cycle B
Scripture: Proverbs 9:1-6; Psalm 34:9-14; Ephesians 5:15-20; John 6:51-58
Sermon Title: “Wisdom and Relationship”

Last week we had the story of Father and Mother Sheep and Little Lamb. They overcame anger. Love was restored. Love claimed the day. We were moving into the bread idea. Jesus is claiming to be the “Bread of Life.” Does that mean that we do not need food pantries or clean water because we can just ask Jesus for it and it will be ours for consumption?

Here’s the thing: We are the hands and feet of Jesus. We are supposed to be concerned and active about our neighbors’ health and well-being. We are supposed to be capable of loving in all ways. That is a goal. Jesus has the bread and the water that help us to be loving! It is a spiritual thing. This bread and water can change our attitude, can change our hearts. This heavenly bread and water can help us to see possibilities for all the people in our neighborhood and the world so that we are willing to share our resources.

Maybe we don’t want this change in our lives. Maybe we don’t want our lives upset. Jesus insists we need this Bread that he offers and that it is his flesh. Jesus is insisting that we are foolish not to think of the wine as his blood. We are not the only ones who find ourselves thinking this is a bit of a stretch. The people of Nazareth – his growing-up neighbors – could not accept this because they knew him as a child. “This cannot be the Son of God,” they say.

But we have this different perspective. We have 2000 plus years between ourselves and this neighbor-child Jesus. We are in awe of Jesus. Jesus is our friend but Jesus is also an compassionate authority in our lives. If Jesus is offering a way to become more like himself, we consider following. When Jesus called his disciples, they followed without hesitation. We are being impressed with that attribute of Jesus while we are immersed in our video series, called “The Chosen.” When Jesus calls, people follow.

Our first lesson, from the Old Testament, introduces the presence of Wisdom. Wisdom has prepared a table for us. Wisdom says, “Come, eat of my bread and drink of the wine I have mixed. Walk in the way of insight.” Insight is the capacity to gain an accurate and deep intuitive understanding of a person or thing. Intuitive is based on what one feels to be true even without conscious reasoning. I would say that our relationship with Jesus is more intuitive than knowing details.

So we have a choice. The choice is to accept this relationship or not to accept. What happens if we do not accept Jesus? What happens if we reject a relationship with Jesus? What happens if we are not open to this offer? We are missing the opportunity of our lives – the quality of our life – not just on earth – although that is significant – but eternal life.

As our offering to you and to Jesus, a few of us will sing this scripture from John 6. If we accept this offer from Jesus, he will raise us up, he will raise us up, he will raise us up on the last day.
We will live forever! Forever! Amen