Greetings!  

  

   Good day good person!

   St. Francis is said to have offered a similar greeting to everyone with whom he came into contact. He'd also offer "Pace 'e Bene" - peace and well-being. What a world this would be if all could say that to one another and mean it?

   Jesus' greeting comes in the form of bread as we continue our journey through John 6, this time reading verses 51-58 (stop "grumbling amongst yourselves" about reading more of the Bread of Life Discourse!). This time the conversation shifts from who Jesus is - the Bread of Life - to what we are supposed to eat - his flesh and blood (It's one reason early Christians were accused of cannibalism).

   Before you read it, it's useful to know that John's readers:

• Were members of a very small and very oppressed minority group. The would also have connected flesh and blood with sacrifice;
• Understood that our flesh and blood belong to God, not to us or to anyone who thinks them might posses us (ourselves, family members, friends, employer, whomever);
• Believed that mother's milk was really the mother's blood.

  Now . . . go read the Gospel lesson and see what images of God come to you. Just sit with that a bit. Then head over to the next reading - Proverbs 9:1-6. Looking at the reading from John through the lens of Proverbs and we begin to see Jesus presenting himself as something of a Mother Jesus (too much of a stretch? Try it out; see where it goes.).

   Okay? Now move on to Psalm 111 and see how food and wisdom are linked. . . and to Ephesians 5:15-20 where Paul says we should get drunk on the Spirit . . .  

   There you have it - four passages . . . much food for thought! 

   We hope you'll share those thoughts/feeling either by dropping Steve a note [address below] or by joining us for GodTalk which meets in the front parlor of 77 Grand Street (aka The Frame Building), Newburgh, from 7 to 8:30 p.m. on Wednesday evening. We begin with some catch up time followed by centering music, prayer, a reading of the gospel and a no holds barred conversation. We'll be pleased to have you join our merry band (use the link below to let us know you'll be coming).