Lord, to whom shall we go?

Joshua 24:1-2a, 14-18; John 6:56-69

At first look, today’s readings are about making choices. Both Joshua and Jesus invite us to choose.

Joshua is in charge of the Israelites after Moses’ death. They have settled in the land after conquering the peoples who already lived there. Joshua gathers them to give a challenge.

He reminds them of how God has led them from Egypt, across the Reed Sea, through the Wilderness, and now into the land promised to Abraham so long ago. But there is a problem. Some of the Israelite people are drawn to the other gods worshiped by their neighbors. While the God of the Israelites is powerful but invisible, the local gods are visible through icons and statues. It seems easier to worship a god they can see.

Joshua tells them, “It is time to make a choice: will you choose the local gods or the powerful God who freed us from slavery in Egypt?” Joshua makes it plain. “As for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.” The Israelites agree and promise to be faithful to the God who has brought them to this land.

… It’s time for those who have been following Jesus to make the same choice. His messages are becoming more challenging. Our reading gives us the end of the explanation of the sign of the multiplication of the loaves of bread and the fish.

As the folks ate the bread, they are now invited to think of Jesus as the Bread of Life, and to eat his flesh and drink his blood. This is as close as John’s Gospel gets to the use of bread and wine for what we call Holy Communion.

This invitation to “Eat my flesh and drink my blood” is a metaphor many of the folks don’t understand. We have to remember that there hasn’t been a last supper yet. Jesus hasn’t died yet, nor has he been raised from death. It’s only in hindsight that the disciples were able to remember his words and figure out what he meant.

At this moment in Jesus’ ministry, many followers stopped following him. They said, “What you are saying is too hard to understand. I don’t get it, I’m leaving.” Even though Jesus must have known such a moment would come, he still is affected by it, and maybe worried. He asks the twelve, “Will you also leave me?” Simon Peter, who often speaks before thinking, has it right this time. “Lord, who else can we follow? Your words lead us to eternal life. We’re sticking with you!”

These words should be familiar to us, since we use them to introduce the reading of the Gospel. “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.” Even though the twelve and others don’t fully understand what Jesus means, they have chosen to stick with him. There will be some challenging moments to come, but they will stick with Jesus to the end and beyond.

… How about us? How about you and me? Will we stick with Jesus, even when it is hard to understand what he is talking about? Even when we don’t like what he says? And, what is eternal life, anyway?

The reward of choosing to follow Jesus is knowing that Jesus offers us an abundance of our daily bread, which means whatever we need: love, grace, divine presence, as well as the basic stuff of life. Following Jesus leads us to God and eternal life.

Eternal life means God will be present with us whenever we want. So, the reward of sticking with Jesus is eternal life, which is a relationship with God, today as well as when we die. Eternal life is knowing God is there for us, on our side. God loves us so much, God doesn’t see our sinfulness. When God looks at us, God sees just our hearts, even though our hearts are broken and far from perfect.

When we spend time with open hearts inviting God to be present with us, God shows up. Here is how that happened for me the other day.

Mike suggested we check out the Botanical Garden in Spring Hill. It is a collection of small gardens with a variety of themes: roses, desert, bromeliad, Asian, and so forth. Mike had his bigger camera, so I knew if I went with him, I would just be watching him take 25 pictures of the same butterfly.

So I told him I would explore on my own and see him later. I found a quiet spot with a bench and plenty of shade. Then I noticed this guy, and decided to spend some time in the company of Brother Francis. At first, I just sat quietly and asked God to join me.

After a while, I looked closer and noticed that the lamb by Francis’ hand was looking up at him in adoration. I saw so much tenderness between Francis and the lamb that I found myself saying, “I want to be loved like that.”

And then I remembered I am loved like that, by Jesus, the Lamb. And it seemed to me I felt a hand on my head, which dropped down onto my back. A loving, reassuring touch. Maybe I imagined it, but it felt real to me.

This relationship Jesus calls eternal life leads us into such moments of recognizing that we are loved unconditionally by God. It can be a challenge to take the time, to make the time, to be silent with God. But I encourage you to make the effort, to choose to be with the Divine Presence in this way.

“Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.” Amen