In all four lessons for today (counting the psalm), there is an invitation addressed to the general populace. In the lesson from Proverbs, Wisdom calls “from the highest places in the town” to those who are “simple” and “those without sense,” that they may “lay aside immaturity, and live, and walk in the way of insight.”

Psalm 34 exclaims, “Come, children, and listen to me,” and promises “the fear of the Lord, long life,” and “prosperity” to those who “turn from evil” and seek these things earnestly. (Psalm 147, usually selected when Morning Prayer is read instead of the Eucharist, generally makes the same promises although not expressed as an explicit invitation.)

The lesson from Ephesians exhorts, “Be careful how you live,” and contrasts “unwise people” with “wise” and foolishness with understanding the will of the Lord. It also states that “the days are evil,” but describes those who live in the will of the Lord as filled with the Spirit to the point that they may sing and “give thanks to God the Father at all times and for everything in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

In the gospel, Jesus concludes his lengthy teaching about the “bread of heaven” with the blunt invitation to “eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood,” with the promise that those who do so will have “eternal life.” Those who do not will have no life in them. As it says a little farther on in the same chapter, Jesus’ words are so offensive to some that “many of his disciples turned back and no longer went about with him” (verse 66).

The invitations in the four readings are progressively direct and costly to the hearer. Those who respond to the invitation in Proverbs must merely identify themselves as being simple and without sense. Those who respond to the psalm must admit that they must “turn from evil.” Those who respond to the epistle must be uninfluenced by evil though they live in an evil world. Finally, those who respond to Jesus must accept his shocking words, though they could not have understood them in any comfortable fashion. In all this teaching, the faithful are invited to make a radical commitment to the way and will of God in sharp contrast to the allures of the world around them, and by doing so find the greatest of blessings.

Look It Up

When some disciples took offense at Jesus’ words about eating his flesh and drinking his blood, Jesus asked the Twelve if they wished to go away also. How did Peter respond, and what was his reason (John 6:68-69)?

Think About It

There are many books available that provide information on a variety of topics “for dummies.” In the lesson from Proverbs, the message is addressed to “the simple” and “those without sense.” What should be included in a book called “salvation for dummies”?

Next Sunday

The 11th Sunday After Pentecost, Aug. 24, 2003 (Proper 16B)

Josh. 24:1-2a, 14-25; Psalm 16 or Psalm 34:15-22; Eph. 5:21-33; John 6:60-69