Reading, Reflection and Prayer

Jesus tells his disciples that they must eat his flesh. This causes quite some misunderstanding and is the occasion of a number of disciples deserting him. We think about this visceral teaching and the resonance it has with Holy Communion.

The feeding of the 5,000. Ruth comments on the boy who brings the bread and fish to Jesus. Although what he brings seems insignificant, once it is blessed, broken and distributed by Jesus it is more than enough.

A denser section of John's gospel. We learn that Jesus only does what the Father is doing - he doesn't act on his own. Believing in him is the key to eternal life. The scriptures aren't an end in themselves but are designed to point us to Jesus so that we place our faith in him.

Jesus heals an official's son at a distance. His second miraculous sign and also at Cana in Galilee. He heals a paralyzed man at Bethesda. Ruth comments on the fact that the man does not answer the question 'do you want to get well' and also that Jesus finds him after the event to tell him to 'stop sinning'.

We hear the whole of the story of the woman at the well. We note how the Samaritans are ready to acknowledge Jesus as the savior 'of the world' while it will take Jesus' disciples longer to understand that God's mission extends beyond just the Jews. We think about the living water that Jesus promises and our need of fresh water each day.

Nicodemus comes to Jesus to be told he must be born again. We think about the eternal life that Jesus comes to bring and what being saved means to us. This new life that Jesus brings begins now and we need to take a hold of his saving power in our lives.

Water into wine and turning over the tables in the temple. We spend some time reflecting on the human aspect of the miracle of new wine. The custom is to bring out cheap wine once the guests have had plenty of wine. The wine that Jesus gives is much more excellent than the wine steward expects.

Jesus calls the disciples. We especially reflect on the calling of Nathanael and the encounter he has with Jesus that convinces him to put his trust in him. Ruth relates to Nathanael's straightforwardness and lack of filter while being critical of Nazareth.

John points away from himself and towards Jesus. Jesus is the 'Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world'. We reflect on our need of saving from our sins.

We begin a new series of Reading, Reflection and Prayer with the prologue to John's Gospel. We think about the distinction between 'Law' and 'Grace and Truth' and the way in which John, with it's symbolic language is often more direct in the spiritual implications that it draws out.