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In the Year B of the liturgical cycle of readings for the Mass, beginning with the 17th Sunday and continuing for five Sundays, the liturgy takes the gospel text from John’s gospel chapter six. For John, Chapter 6 marks a very significant point in Jesus’ ministry. It is at this point that many of Jesus followers quit - abandon their discipleship, and no longer follow him. While no doubt we are very familiar with John Chapter 6, I believe its significance is greatly magnified by these times we are now experiencing. In verse 66, Jesus asks a question that is as raw today as it was then. “Do you also wish to go away?” For these five Sundays focusing on John Chapter 6 I will lay out a meditation guide for each Sunday’s text. With verse 66 as our key text we will look into the text chooses for each Sunday's gospel, exploring how the many became the few and what lessons we can hear speaking to our time. Consider: Verse 2 tells us: "A
large crowd kept following him, because they saw the signs that he was doing
for the sick." Here Jesus' miracles are called "signs" - telling us that they are not to be ends in themselves rather pointing to something even greater. As today's science has ever greater explanation for nature's phenomena, does this affect the way you think of God's providence in your life? Does God really answer prayer? Consider: Today's atheist relies a great deal on the argument - If God is good and loving why is there so much suffering in the world? How often do you find yourself asking the same question and what answer do you have? Consider: As the people in this text witnessed Jesus' disciples hands full of bread to satisfy their hunger - their faith, trust, and confidence in Jesus soars. Today the hands of some serving in the name of Jesus have bourn scandal. How are images of such as these affecting your faith today? Consider: We celebrate Jesus as Christ the King. Why did Jesus break off from those who wanted to make him their King? Does their notion of kingship conflict with Jesus' kingship? Should religion stay clear of politics as Jesus avoided their wish to make him their king? |
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