Introduction to the Word for Worship
Simon Peter answered [Jesus], “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life, and we have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God.”
-John 6:68-69 (ESV)
The words believe and know in Peter’s response are virtual synonyms and together they provide emphasis. These two verbs are brought together again in synonymous parallelism in 17:8, where Jesus, in his prayer to the Father, says of his disciples, ‘They knew with certainty that I came from you, and they believed that you sent me’ (italics added). In 6:69, then, the Twelve are making a strong confession of faith similar in its significance to the confessions of Martha (11:27) and Thomas (20:28), and as such it contributes to the overall purpose of the Gospel of John: to encourage readers [and listeners] also to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God (20:31).
-Colin Kruse
The Collect of the Day
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 Word:
(Click on the links below to read Sunday's passages)
First Reading: Ephesians 5:15–6:9
Psalm 16 (posted below the Playlist)
Gospel Reading: John 6:60-69
A downloadable Home Liturgy with Spiritual Communion follows the Psalm
(click below on the Spotify Playlist to listen)
Psalm 16
1 Preserve me, O God, *
for in you have I put my trust.
2 O my soul, you have said unto the Lord, *
“You are my Lord; I have no good apart from you.”
3 All my delight is upon the saints who are on the earth, *
and upon those who excel in virtue.
4 But those who run after another god *
shall have great trouble.
5 Their drink offerings of blood I will not offer, *
neither make mention of their names with my lips.
6 The Lord himself is the portion of my inheritance and of my cup; *
you shall maintain my lot.
7 The boundaries have fallen for me in pleasant places; *
indeed, I have a goodly heritage.
8 I will thank the Lord for giving me counsel; *
my heart also chastens me in the night season.
9 I have set the Lord always before me; *
he is at my right hand; therefore I shall not fall.
10 Therefore my heart is glad and my soul rejoices. *
My flesh also shall rest in hope.
11 For you shall not leave my soul in the grave, *
neither shall you allow your Holy One to see corruption.
12 You shall show me the path of life; in your presence is the fullness of joy, *
and at your right hand there is pleasure for evermore.
(from the New Coverdale Psalter as found in the 2019 Book of Common Prayer)