John 6:53-58 … Communing with Communion (12/18/16)
“Blessed are You, Lord our God; source of the Universe, who creates the fruits of the Vine and of the Earth.” ~ Jewish blessing*
This blessing is actually a combination of two of the four blessings traditionally said before every Jewish Shabbat meal – honoring God and giving thanks to Him for the sustenance provided … It is certainly no accident that I just “happened” to focus on these two of the four – the two that just happened to focus on bread & wine – the two forms of sustenance that Jesus just happened to primarily focus upon himself during his ministry – the two forms of sustenance that for many in Jesus’ day (including Jesus himself) represented the unconditional Divine Love within us all (wine – see Matthew 9:17, Matthew 26:27-28, Mark 14:23-24, Luke 22:17-20, John 2:1-11 et al) and the self-sacrificial acts of Caring that enlivened the same (bread – see Matthew 6:11, Matthew 26:26, Luke 22:19, Luke 24:30, John 6:33-35, John 6:48-51, John 21:13 et al).
Amen … Let it be so.
*(Baruch atah Adonai elohaynu melech haolam borey p’ree Hagafen … Baruch atah Adonai elohaynu melech haolam borey p’ree Haadama.)
“Very truly, I tell you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. Those who eat my flesh [the ‘bread’ of selfless service] and drink my blood [the ‘wine’ of selfless LOVE] have eternal life [see John 13:15-17], and I will raise them up on the last day; for my flesh is true food and my blood is true drink. Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood abide in me, and I in them [see John 14:20 & John 15:12]. Just as the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so whoever eats me will live because of me. This is the bread that came down from heaven, not like that which your ancestors ate, and they died. But the one who eats this bread will live forever.” ~ Jesus Christ (John 6:53-58)
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