The 11th Sunday After Pentecost (Proper 15B), Aug. 20, 2006

BCP: Prov. 9:1-6; Psalm 147 or 34:9-14; Eph. 5:15-20; John 6:53-59

RCL: 1 Kings 2:10-12, 3:3-14 or Prov. 9:1-6; Psalm 111 or Psalm 34:9-14; Eph. 5:15-20; John 6:51-58

Every day we set our priorities for living. Every day we define who we are and who we are becoming. We choose what matters most to us, what comes next, what comes last, what doesn’t even happen. We embody our values in our priorities, giving order and direction to our lives.

Wisdom was the first priority for Solomon. He was king of Israel after his father David died, but he admitted his limitations. He was young and inexperienced. He did “not know how to go out or come in” (1 Kings 3:7). It pleased God that Solomon asked for wisdom instead of long life or wealth or victory over his enemies, so the Lord granted him “a wise and discerning mind” (1 Kings 3:12). In addition to the gift of discernment, God also granted riches and honor to Solomon, giving him some of the things he passed over when he asked for wisdom.

As Solomon exercised wisdom, he received wealth and honor in the world. Similarly, Jesus states in the Sermon on the Mount that we should seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and then our bodily needs will be provided as well (Matt. 6:31-33).

Paul also urges the Ephesians to live wisely, to make the most of the time, and to understand the will of the Lord. Instead of getting drunk, they should be filled with the Spirit. They should sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs together, and they should also be “making melody to the Lord” in their hearts (Eph. 5:19). Wise Christian living means they should make good choices and avoid foolishness. But their wisdom will also mean worship and praise and thanksgiving together.

Jesus offers a wisdom that surpasses reason. He states that he is the living bread that came down from heaven, that anyone who eats this bread will live forever, and that the bread he gives for the life of the world is his flesh (John 6:51). This startles the Jews, who wonder in a very literal way how Jesus can give his flesh to eat. But Jesus promises that he will abide in those who eat his flesh and drink his blood, and they will live because of him, as he lives because of God the Father. This is not the wisdom of reason, but the wisdom of sacrifice. It is the wisdom of the last supper and the cross. Whoever shares this bread and wine will live forever by sharing Jesus’ life and his sacrifice.

Look It Up

For descriptions of the last supper when Jesus identified the bread and wine with his body and blood, see Matt. 26:26-28, Mark 14:22-24, Luke 22:17-20, and 1 Cor. 11:23-25.

Think About It

How do your prayers inform your priorities? How do you share your faith and love through your priorities?

Next Sunday

The 12th Sunday After Pentecost (Proper 16B), Aug. 27, 2006

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

RCL: 1 Kings 8: (1, 6, 10-11), 22-30, 41-43 or Josh. 24:1-2a, 14-18; Psalm 84 or Psalm 34:15-22; Eph. 6:10-20; John 6:56-69