Pentecost 10-14 B: Bread of Life
Dear Partner in Preaching,
I’m going to take a brief hiatus over the next five weeks as we traverse the 6th chapter of the Gospel of John. The last time I took a break from writing this weekly column was six years ago and at the time I wrote a column at Working Preacher suggesting a sermon series on the Bread of Life passages and offering a few thoughts and a question each week to help with that, which is linked here.
I’ll also put links to the letters I wrote to you on these texts in this space three years ago. While I don’t like offering up previous work, I will admit – which is not easy for me to do – that I need a little break to catch up on some other projects at my congregation and to complete a writing assignment and, with a little luck, to get away for a bit. Hopefully you’ll find something here, as well as at the other resources you use – like WorkingPreacher.org, of course 🙂 – that is helpful.
Finally, I’ll also put below a video excerpt of an interview with my friend Michael Curry on the Bread of Life passages. (If you can’t watch it on the embedded video below, you can find it on YouTube or at the Working Preacher site.)
Blessed Late July and August, Dear Partner! I am grateful for your faithful proclamation week in and week out. And remember that others are both grateful and blessed as well!
David
July 29: Pentecost 10, John 6:1-21
August 5: Pentecost 11, John 6:24-35
August 12: Pentecost 12, John 6:35, 41-51
August 19: Pentecost 13, John 6:51-58
August 26: Pentecost 14, John 6:56-69
Two final notes:
1) For some reason, when I posted these reflections three years ago, I used a different numbering for the lectionary texts, one week behind the pattern today. So… Pentecost 14 this year, for instance, was Pentecost 13 (at least in my numbering) three years ago. I don’t know or remember why, but there you go. Pay attention to the text from John, and you’ll be fine. 🙂
2) With a little luck, I may post a few other things over the next five weeks, that aren’t about preaching. But no promises… 🙂
Dr. Lose; Thank you for all the things you post, I find them uplifting and very helpful as I prepare for Sunday worship. Blessings on your time away from this, and I pray that you find rest and get some time away. You deserve it. Peace to you.
The “one off” numbers of the Sundays after Pentecost this year is attributed to the date of Easter, which was April 5, 2015 and April 1, 2018. The Lectionary keys off calendar dates (Lectionary 17 B is the Sunday between July 24 and July 30 this year) not Sundays after . . .
Indeed, the “Proper ##” numbering system and the “## Sunday in Ordinary Time” system (which matches the ELW / ELCA’s “Lectionary ##” numbers) stays consistent from cycle to cycle, matching the scripture readings, whereas the “##th Sunday after Pentecost” numbering system shifts around quite a bit, completely dependent on when Easter falls. So, in year B, Proper 12 / the 17th Sunday in Ordinary Time / Lectionary 17 always has John 6:1-21 as the gospel reading, but this could end up being any of about 5 different “##th Sunday after Pentecost” numbers.
Dear David. I am blessed each week by your thoughtful reflections. I pray that this time away will renew and refresh you. Blessings,
Please rest.
I always wonder how you do all that you do. Thank you for all of this. And I hope your time away is nourishing for you – just as you nourish us. You are vital to the Church.
Thank you for posting this video of our Presiding Bishop, and may you get fed in your Sabbath rest.
Also, please keep our Presiding Bishop in prayer, as he undergoes surgery for prostate cancer on July 31st.
In this starting use of John’s feeding of the 5,000; should we look at John 5:19-47 where the issue of testimony to Jesus…and the failure of perception and recognition to Jesus… is a stepping stone to the bread of life teachings of Chapter 6. John centers his “7 signs” with this feeding being the 4th recited. Less critical than maybe the grandeur of this “miracle” is the glory it reveals. It is misled understanding (see 6:14-15) that bears out the earlier Chapter 5 teachings. Maybe, the hunger (as often preached) expands to the basic failure of our perception to God’s constancy and character towards humankind. On whom do we set our hopes? 5:46.
Dear David Lose,
Thank you for your faithful words and teachings on the text. You have been an inspiration and a great encouragement to my work as a pastor and preacher. May you find refreshing and blessing in your time away.
Dear David,
Thank you for your insight words. Yes, I will watch the Video of the PB.
I was wondering about the poem at the end of your 2015 writing.
May it be quoted?
Thanks,
Suzy
Hi, Suzy. Kenn Stork, I believe, is always amenable to having his work quoted with attribution. You can find his blog at http://pastorkennsstudy.blogspot.com/. Thanks for checking in!
Dr. Lose,
Your reflections have always helped identify a unique dimension of Scripture while remaining faithful to the historic context and meaning. They are a blessing to many of us. I hope that your time off was restful and that your ministry demands allow you space to return to Partner in Preaching soon. Blessings on your ministry, family, and time.