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| Jesus teaching in the Temple James Tissot (1836-1902) |
- 1 Kings 2:10-12; 3:3-14 and Psalm 111 •
- Proverbs 9:1-6 and Psalm 34:9-14 •
- Ephesians 5:15-20 •
- John 6:51-58
The Gospel for this week continues the theme of the previous
week as it elaborates still further the symbolic image of ‘the bread of life’. In
these verses, the image of wine is added. Both symbols figure very prominently
in John’s Gospel, and relate unmistakably to the distinctive Christian rite of
Holy Communion. This rite seems to have been well established among the
followers of Christ at a very early stage, and since it is likely that John’s
Gospel was composed somewhere around six decades after the death of Jesus, it
is seems certain that it was written in full knowledge of this fact.
What this shows is that the Eucharist did not arise from a
new theological doctrine or creed. Rather, its celebration had a power to speak
directly to the deep spiritual needs and hopes of people. The struggle to
understand its mysterious nature flowed from an immediate acknowledgement of
its significance, as it. has always done and continues to.
With unusual literary skill, the fourth Evangelist weaves the
teachings of Jesus with their essential Jewish background, and his subsequent Crucifixion
and Resurrection, into a remarkably unified narrative. It is one that has provided
Christians over two millennia with an indispensible source of insight into and
reflection upon the central practice of their faith.
The other Lectionary readings for this week point out a
further important connection. References to bread and wine occur in the short
passages from Proverbs and Ephesians. Together they alert us to the fact that
the Eucharist is not simply a distinctive religious ritual. It is intimately
connected with living life wisely.
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