25-Aug-24 (John 6:56-69)

Sometimes we need to remind ourselves that the way of Jesus is not supposed to be easy. At the best of times, Jesus will challenge our assumptions and draw us into places where we will learn and grow. In the worst of times, we may be called upon to risk all we have, including our lives, for our faith. In the gospel story for today, many people stopped following Jesus because the way was too hard.
It isn't easy and the only way to live our way into the challenge is to draw on the words that Jesus spoke that are spirit and life for us.
One of the places we hear those words is here at the Table.
Come, hear the words of life that Jesus is speaking to you.
Let us pray.

Prayer:

God, who is the source of all life and the giver of abundant life, we thank you that Jesus came to us with the words that can become spirit and life to us. We thank you that he, himself took the way which isn't easy, but which brought life and relationship with you to us. We thank you for these symbols of bread and cup, that remind us of all Jesus gave to open the way for us. As we take the bread and cup, fill us with your Spirit and remind us of your words of life, that we may carry them out into our world, no matter how hard the way before us.
In the name of Jesus, our Christ, AMEN