John 6:35, 41-51 (NRSV)
Read John 6:35, 41-51 on biblegateway.com
Verse 35Jesus said to them, "I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty. Verse 41Then the Jews began to complain about him because he said, "I am the bread that came down from heaven." Verse 42They were saying, "Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How can he now say, 'I have come down from heaven'?" Verse 43Jesus answered them, "Do not complain among yourselves. Verse 44No one can come to me unless drawn by the Father who sent me; and I will raise that person up on the last day. Verse 45It is written in the prophets, 'And they shall all be taught by God.' Everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to me. Verse 46Not that anyone has seen the Father except the one who is from God; he has seen the Father. Verse 47Very truly, I tell you, whoever believes has eternal life. Verse 48I am the bread of life. Verse 49Your ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died. Verse 50This is the bread that comes down from heaven, so that one may eat of it and not die. Verse 51I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats of this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh."
Devotion
Much of what is said concerning Lawrence, whom we commemorate today, is based upon Christian tradition. But we know that he was a Roman citizen, head deacon of the Church of Rome and charged with the distribution of benevolences to “the least of these.” Upon his arrest, Lawrence was tortured to reveal the church’s treasure and martyred on Aug. 10, 258.
St. Augustine wrote in a sermon, “Just as Christ laid down his life for us, so we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. My brethren, Lawrence understood this and, understanding, he acted upon it. … In life he loved Christ; in his death he followed in his footsteps.”
Whom do you wish to be like? How do you wish to be known? How much are you willing to lose for the sake of Christ? These are important faith questions.
Prayer
Gracious God, we seek to follow after you but often find ourselves uncertain and timid. Strengthen our resolve, steel our character and let us clearly see the goal that is Christ. Let us have no fear, but only confident love. Amen.