God's gracious spiritual nourishment
Prayer
Contemporary Lectionary Prayers
Cycle B
Gospel Note:
The two "I am the bread" sayings here are followed by a series
of declarations to the effect that it is God who provides the
spiritual nourishment and who takes the initiative in drawing
people to belief. Verses 45 and 46 do not teach a clear doctrine
of predestination, but certainly can be used to support one, if
only because, like the doctrine, they point to God's sovereignty
in the redemptive process.
Liturgical Color:
Green
Suggested Hymns:
Guide Me Ever, Great Redeemer
Forgive Our Sins As We Forgive
Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee
O Living Bread From Heaven
We Who Once Were Dead
O Bread Of Life From Heaven
"I know what I know!"
Have you heard these words on our lips, Lord?
If we do not say them, we often think them.
We write people off because we know their
reputations.
We do not listen to sound advice because we do
not want to change our own way of thinking.
Our pride prevents us from admitting it when
we are wrong.
When we hear something which does not fit what
we know, we murmur under our breath, we grumble,
and we groan.
Nevertheless, the truth stands.
When Jesus said he was the Bread of Heaven,
people murmured, grumbled and groaned.
This bread stuck in their throats because of
their own cries of protest.
They would not believe.
They knew what they knew.
They were wrong!
Lord, peel away our self-righteousness and give us
this bread always.
Amen.
The two "I am the bread" sayings here are followed by a series
of declarations to the effect that it is God who provides the
spiritual nourishment and who takes the initiative in drawing
people to belief. Verses 45 and 46 do not teach a clear doctrine
of predestination, but certainly can be used to support one, if
only because, like the doctrine, they point to God's sovereignty
in the redemptive process.
Liturgical Color:
Green
Suggested Hymns:
Guide Me Ever, Great Redeemer
Forgive Our Sins As We Forgive
Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee
O Living Bread From Heaven
We Who Once Were Dead
O Bread Of Life From Heaven
"I know what I know!"
Have you heard these words on our lips, Lord?
If we do not say them, we often think them.
We write people off because we know their
reputations.
We do not listen to sound advice because we do
not want to change our own way of thinking.
Our pride prevents us from admitting it when
we are wrong.
When we hear something which does not fit what
we know, we murmur under our breath, we grumble,
and we groan.
Nevertheless, the truth stands.
When Jesus said he was the Bread of Heaven,
people murmured, grumbled and groaned.
This bread stuck in their throats because of
their own cries of protest.
They would not believe.
They knew what they knew.
They were wrong!
Lord, peel away our self-righteousness and give us
this bread always.
Amen.
