August 25, 2024
14th Sunday after Pentecost – Ted Hackett
John 6:51-58
It’s nice to be back up here …
As many of you know I have been pretty much out of circulation for a few months…
As we age we become like old cars…
The parts wear out…
Some they can replace…
Some they can fix for a while…
And some just…
have to give out!
I won’t waste your time with details…
Corner me privately if you want and I’ll bore you with my ailments
But to the matter at hand…
the Gospel readings…
The last two Sundays…and today…Our Gospel readings are from the 6th chapter of John…
They are really quite mystifying if you read them closely…
Now that’s partly because these readings, are from three different sources…
John had at least three different traditions to deal with…
All of them dealing with the Eucharist…
Three different Churches…
Probably all in the region of Ephesus in what is now Turkey…
There were probably several Christian communities around Ephesus…it was a pretty big city…
And each may have had slightly different traditions by the year 95 when this Gospel was written…
John wrote this Gospel in part to unite these communities…to keep them from arguing…
August 18, 2024
13th Sunday after Pentecost – Byron Tindall
Ephesus
The city of Ephesus is located in the western part of what is now Turkey, across the Aegean Sea from Athens, Greece. Back when this letter was penned, Ephesus was a major commercial center and the capital of the Roman province of Asia. It needs to be noted that this is not the same as the present-day continent of Asia.
Ephesus was no small wide spot in the Roman Empire. It boasted an amphitheater that seated nearly 25,000 spectators. It was also home to the magnificent Temple of Artemis mentioned in Acts 19:27. This edifice was also known as the Temple of Diana.
According to the Acts of the Apostles’, Paul visited Ephesus on his second missionary journey as well as on his third journey. During that third journey, he stayed in the city for two to three years.
There is some disagreement between Biblical scholars as to whether or not Paul actually wrote the Letter to the Ephesians. A good case can be made for saying that Paul did write the letter. A just as strong position is available to those who say someone else is the author. I’ll not get into that discussion any further at this time.
Ephesus, prior to the introduction of Christianity, was what we would call a pagan city. The arrival of Christianity caused “no little disturbance” among the residents who made their living with practices deemed demonic or idolatrous by Christians.
August 11, 2024
12th Sunday after Pentecost Proper 14, Year B – Bill Harkins
The Collect
Grant to us, Lord, we pray, the spirit to think and do always those things that are right, that we, who cannot exist without you, may by you be enabled to live according to your will; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
The Gospel: John 6:35, 41-51:
Jesus said, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.”
Then the Jews began to complain about him because he said, “I am the bread that came down from heaven.” They were saying, “Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How can he now say, ‘I have come down from heaven’?” Jesus answered them, “Do not complain among yourselves. No one can come to me unless drawn by the Father who sent me; and I will raise that person up on the last day. It is written in the prophets, ‘And they shall all be taught by God.’ Everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to me. Not that anyone has seen the Father except the one who is from God; he has seen the Father. Very truly, I tell you, whoever believes has eternal life. I am the bread of life.
August 4, 2024
11th Sunday after PentecostProper 13, Year B – Bill Harkins
The Collect
Let your continual mercy, O Lord, cleanse and defend your Church; and, because it cannot continue in safety without your help, protect and govern it always by your goodness; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
The Gospel: John 6:24-35
The next day, when the people who remained after the feeding of the five thousand saw that neither Jesus nor his disciples were there, they themselves got into the boats and went to Capernaum looking for Jesus.
…Then Jesus said to them, “Very truly, I tell you, it was not Moses who gave you the bread from heaven, but it is my Father who gives you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is that which comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” They said to him, “Sir, give us this bread always.” Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.”
In the Name of the God of Creation who loves us all, Amen.
Good morning, and welcome to Holy Family on this 11th Sunday after Pentecost. Thank you, to each of you, for being here this morning as we take another step together on the journey toward finding our next rector.