12th Sunday after Pentecost
1 Kings 19:4-8; Psalm 34:1-8; Ephesians 4:25—5:2; John 6:35, 41-51
The common revised lectionary second installation of “The Bread Season” comes to us on the 12th Sunday after Pentecost. After trying to convey to the witnesses of the feeding miracle that he is little more than a provider of free food (John 6:24-33) and receiving from them what sounds like a sincere plea for everlasting nourishment (34), Jesus makes the statement that sets off this segment of the gospel of John: “I am the bread of life (35a).”
Suddenly, Jesus gets some negativity, and his divine mission is questioned (41). What happened to the promising reaction from those listening? First they said, “Sir, give us this bread always.” Now, it’s like, “Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know?” What changed? Perhaps the clue is in the verses the lectionary skips (36-40). The life-giving nourishment from God that Jesus now offers reaches beyond their ancestry (40). Jesus declares that he will never drive away those who come to him (37), for if anyone comes to Christ, it is because God so wishes, and to all of them, the promise of everlasting life now belongs (44, 47).
In 1 Kings, we are presented with a side of the prophet Elijah that we may not have seen coming. The one who was always obedient and trusting of God and overcame the prophets of Baal at Mount Carmel is burned out after fleeing the wrath of Jezebel. Why Elijah feels unworthy of God’s providence is not clear. Nonetheless, God will have none of it. God is faithful to those who turn their hearts to him. “Get up and eat,” says the envoy from the Lord (19:5, 7).
Paul reminds the church in Ephesus—where some seem to be struggling to wear the garment of new life they received in baptism (Ephesians 4:24)—of the way they learned Christ (20). It is not about bitterness, wrath, anger, wrangling, or malice. It is about kindness, tenderheartedness, forgiveness (31, 32), and, guess what? Love (5:2). That is what children of God do (1).
The psalmist proclaims:
“The angel of the Lord encamps
around those who fear him and delivers them.
O taste and see that the Lord is good;
happy are those who take refuge in him (Psalm 34:7–8, NRSVue).”
Bridging Faith 