Introduction to the Word for Worship
So Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day."
-John 6:53-54 (ESV)
To understand properly what Jesus was saying in highly metaphorical language, readers must remember that he said the same thing in more straightforward terms in 6:40: ‘everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day.’ Placing these two verses side by side, it is clear that eating Jesus’ flesh and drinking his blood functions as a metaphor for believing in him, especially as the one whose vicarious death on the cross secures salvation. Continuing the metaphor, Jesus said, For my flesh is real food and my blood is real drink. When this metaphor is unpacked it means that Jesus is the source of true satisfaction; belief in him who gave his life for the world is the only way to satisfy human hunger and thirst for God.
-Colin Kruse
The Collect of the Day
Keep your Church, O Lord, by your perpetual mercy; and because without you the frailty of our nature causes us to fall, keep us from all things hurtful, and lead us to all things profitable for our salvation; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
The Word:
(Click on the links below to read Sunday's passages)
First Reading: Ephesians 5:3-14
Psalm 34:8-15 (posted below the Playlist)
Gospel Reading: John 6:53-59
A downloadable Home Liturgy with Spiritual Communion follows the Psalm
(click below on the Spotify Playlist to listen)
Psalm 147
1 Praise the Lord, for it is a good thing to sing praises unto our God; *
indeed, a joyful and pleasant thing it is to be thankful.
2 The Lord builds up Jerusalem, *
and gathers together the outcasts of Israel.
3 He heals those who are broken in heart, *
and binds up their wounds.
4 He counts the number of the stars, *
and calls them all by their names.
5 Great is our Lord, and great is his power; *
indeed, his wisdom is infinite.
6 The Lord lifts up the meek, *
and brings the ungodly down to the ground.
7 O sing unto the Lord with thanksgiving; *
sing praises with the harp unto our God,
8 Who covers the heavens with clouds, and prepares rain for the earth, *
and makes the grass to grow upon the mountains,
and plants for the use of men,
9 Who gives food to the cattle *
and feeds the young ravens that call upon him.
10 He has no pleasure in the strength of a horse; *
neither does he delight in any man’s strength.
11 But the Lord’s delight is in those who fear him *
and put their trust in his mercy.
12 Praise the Lord, O Jerusalem; *
praise your God, O Zion.
13 For he has made strong the bars of your gates *
and has blessed your children within you.
14 He makes peace in your borders *
and fills you with the finest of wheat.
15 He sends forth his commandment upon the earth, *
and his word runs very swiftly.
16 He gives snow like wool *
and scatters the white frost like ashes.
17 He casts forth his ice like crumbs; *
who is able to abide his frost?
18 He sends out his word and melts them; *
he blows with his wind, and the waters flow.
19 He declares his word unto Jacob, *
his statutes and ordinances unto Israel.
20 He has not dealt so with other nations; *
neither have they knowledge of his laws.
Praise the Lord.
(from the New Coverdale Psalter as found in the 2019 Book of Common Prayer)