Reflections

Wednesday of the Sixth Week After the Epiphany


Listen Later

February 19, 2025


Today's Reading: John 6:41-59

Daily Lectionary:Job 14:1-22; John 6:41-59


“I am the bread of life. Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died. This is the bread that comes down from heaven, so that one may eat of it and not die. I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. And the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh.” (John 6:48–51)


In the Name + of Jesus. Amen


Bread that brings life to the world. That’s what Jesus is, the source of life and sustenance for people who hunger, for people in need. These days, with our suspicions about gluten and refined carbohydrates, it can be hard to see simple bread as something so important for life. But that is exactly who and what Jesus is: the foundation of life itself.


Elijah ate bread brought by the angel and went forth in that strength for forty days. The Israelites lived on manna all throughout their wilderness wandering, bread also given by God.


Even though this miraculous Old Testament bread fed and sustained them, it didn’t last. The Israelites died, and Elijah eventually found food elsewhere. For us, though, that bread pointed to the importance of Jesus as the living bread from heaven. Our ears are already tuned to the sound of God’s Gift of bread being given to feed us.


And the fantastic thing about this bread is that it doesn’t come in only one form. You don’t only find it upon the altar in the Sacrament. Jesus gives us a bread that we eat with our mouths and with our ears. He doesn’t restrict his life, your life, to one source only, but he gives it in many ways. 


Baptism, Holy Absolution, Holy Scripture, the preached Word, the Supper. Christ Jesus never wants you to go hungry, so he gives his bread, his life, his Gifts, in many ways so that you will never be hungry for a lack of it, and so that it is always available in your time of need.


This bread is given to you in faith, the living faith created in you by the work of the Holy Spirit. You receive it in faith as well, knowing that the good and gracious Gifts of God, especially the Gift of his Son Jesus for you, will keep and strengthen you throughout all your days.


In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.


Praise the Father, who from heaven To His own this food has given, Who, to mend what we have done, Gave into death His only Son…Let this food your faith so nourish That its fruit of love may flourish And your neighbor learn from you How much God’s wondrous love can do. (LSB 627:4, 10)


-Rev. Duane Bamsch, pastor of Grace Lutheran Church in Grass Valley, CA.


Audio Reflections Speaker: Pastor Jonathan Lackey is the pastor at Grace Lutheran Church, Vine Grove, KY.


What makes a church "good?" Come join the fictional family as they test out eight different churches in their brand-new town and answer this question along the way. Will the Real Church Please Stand Up? by Matthew Richard, now available from Concordia Publishing House.

...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

ReflectionsBy Higher Things, Inc.

  • 4.5
  • 4.5
  • 4.5
  • 4.5
  • 4.5

4.5

8 ratings


More shows like Reflections

View all
Mark Levin Podcast by Cumulus Podcast Network

Mark Levin Podcast

23,892 Listeners

Issues, Etc. by Lutheran Public Radio

Issues, Etc.

1,813 Listeners

White Horse Inn by Michael Horton, Justin Holcomb, Bob Hiller, Walter R. Strickland II

White Horse Inn

2,141 Listeners

The Briefing with Albert Mohler by R. Albert Mohler, Jr.

The Briefing with Albert Mohler

8,491 Listeners

The World and Everything In It by WORLD Radio

The World and Everything In It

6,908 Listeners

40 Minutes In The Old Testament by 1517 Podcasts

40 Minutes In The Old Testament

971 Listeners

Rev. Dr. Matthew Richard’s Podcast by Rev. Dr. Matthew Richard of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church

Rev. Dr. Matthew Richard’s Podcast

41 Listeners

Thinking Fellows by 1517 Podcasts

Thinking Fellows

822 Listeners

30 Minutes In The New Testament by 1517 Podcasts

30 Minutes In The New Testament

727 Listeners

Morning Prayer Sermonette from KFUO Radio by KFUO Radio

Morning Prayer Sermonette from KFUO Radio

31 Listeners

Christian History Almanac by 1517 Podcasts

Christian History Almanac

406 Listeners

The Word of the Lord Endures Forever by Lutheran Public Radio

The Word of the Lord Endures Forever

814 Listeners

Verdict with Ted Cruz by Premiere Networks

Verdict with Ted Cruz

44,287 Listeners

What-Not: The Podcast by What-Not, The Podcast

What-Not: The Podcast

164 Listeners

The Uncultured Saints by Higher Things, Inc.

The Uncultured Saints

5 Listeners

As Lutheran As It Gets by Higher Things, Inc.

As Lutheran As It Gets

3 Listeners

There and Back Again by Higher Things, Inc.

There and Back Again

2 Listeners

The Drive to School Podcast by Higher Things, Inc.

The Drive to School Podcast

8 Listeners

HT Shorts by Higher Things

HT Shorts

1 Listeners

Black & Blue by Higher Things, Inc.

Black & Blue

0 Listeners