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13th Sunday after Pentecost • Year B
August 18, 2024 • Proper 15
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Historical Collect
Almighty, eternal God, increase in us your gifts of faith, hope and love; and in order that love may abide in us, help us to celebrate what your love has done for us. Grant this, we pray, through Jesus Christ, your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen. (Leonine Sacramentary, 6th Century)
Thematic Collect
Life-giving God, you sustain us with the power of your Word and feed us with your Son’s body and blood. Help us so to abide in him and he in us that we may live our lives in obedience to your will and service to others; through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God now and forever. Amen.
The Common Thread
“We should fear, love, and trust God above all things,” and we should do so sincerely and faithfully. This means continually turning away from evil (especially after we have sinned) and pursuing peace. For the Lord is with the righteous: those who fear, love, and trust God above all things. This is how children of the light walk: in fear, in love, trusting in God’s forgiveness which makes them righteous. These are they upon whom the light of Christ has shone. They find their way to the Lord’s table where the holy meal is spread before them. Believing, they eat, and drink, and abide.
First Reading • Joshua 24:1-2a, 14-18
This is the question before us each day: Whom will you serve? Will you serve the Lord or what is worthless? We are called to serve Lord every day. It is not a one-time decision. Our service to him is done with a sincere heart and with faithfulness. In many cases, this will involve abandoning those things that were important to our families in previous generations. Often, it will seem that we stand alone, as Joshua felt that day in Shechem. Sometimes, our bold stand will give courage to others so that, empowered by the Spirit of God, they too will serve the Lord.
Psalm • Psalm 34:12-22
Life is a gift from God. Yet, his gift can be ruined by something as small as the tongue and the lips. The good life requires a continual turning from evil, for the Lord loves the righteous and hears their prayers. But the Lord is against those who speak lies and do evil. Nevertheless, even the righteous will experience adversity. But even when this good life is difficult, the Lord is near. “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” (Matt 5:3)
Second Reading • Ephesians 5:6-21
When it is dark, one may always light a lamp, flip a switch, or walk into a room that is lighted. We once walked in darkness but now, as children of the light, we are to change that behavior. And there are ways to do so. Be discerning about what is spoken and what is listened to. Rise out of sleepy behavior and the promise is that Christ will shine on you. Watch where you step. Make the best use of time, being filled with the Spirit. The result will be life illuminated with worship, thanks, and dependence on one another for Christ's sake.
Gospel • John 6:51-69
Though there are things that may be done, abandoning old attachments, like turning from evil, or walking in the light, what we are dealing with is faith. This is what God offers us in Christ: faith, trust, belief in the one sent of the Father. Whoever believes in the bread of life (John 6:46-47) has eternal life. Jesus made it clear what this faith looks like—and the people he was speaking to did not care for what he said (John 6:52). We must eat the flesh of the living bread, the bread of life. Unless we eat his flesh and drink his blood, we do not have eternal life. By faith, we understand that Jesus is true food and drink. Just as the manna had descended from the heavens and the wandering Hebrews had to eat it to live, Jesus is the bread descended from heaven, and we must eat this living bread to live. At his words, many of his followers turned away from Jesus. But Peter knew there was no one else who had the words of eternal life and speaking for the remaining disciples said with the conviction of faith, “We have believed.”
Resources
Links to Worship Resources for this Service
