Archive for August, 2024
Posted on: August 25th, 2024 by St. Stephens Downsview
### Welcome Back, Travelers
It is good to see all of you again and a very special welcome back to all of our travelers. I can’t call you weary travelers because you are energized by your trip south of the border to see Daniel. We are happy to have all of you back today. And of course, we welcome those who are visiting with us for the first time.
### Words from John’s Gospel
I want to share with you some words from John’s Gospel, chapter six, reading from verses 67 to 69: “So Jesus asked the 12, as we heard read just a moment ago, ‘Do you also wish to go away?’ Simon Peter answered him, ‘Lord, to whom can we go? You have the words of eternal life. Amen. We have come to believe and know that you are the holy one of God.'”
These words spoken between Jesus and his disciples follow immediately after a very tough teaching in a synagogue in Capernaum. Jesus said to those who gathered there for worship that those who eat his flesh and drink his blood abide in him and he in them. He said further that just as the living Father sent him and he lives because of the Father, so whoever eats him will live because of him. Indeed, he referred to himself as the living bread that came down from heaven so that one may eat of it and live forever.
### A Difficult Teaching
So Jesus’ claims, as we have thought about them and listened to them over these last few Sundays, presented a significant obstacle for faith, particularly for the Jewish people among whom he spoke. Here was a human being, just as they were, whose mother and father they knew, who is now identifying himself as this life-giving way, as none other than Israel’s God. Not surprisingly, John reports to us in the Gospel for today that many of his disciples turned back and no longer went about with him. They could not abide his statement.
But Peter received the grace to press beyond such externals, the things that tripped up the other disciples. He pressed beyond such externals to actually hear Jesus’ words and to hear them in the context of his life and to recognize that in hearing these words he could stake his life on no one else but this one who now stood before them.
### The Theme of God’s Determination
Jesus’ difficult teaching draws together a two-part theme, which I believe runs through all the scripture readings that we’ve heard today. It sums up and retells the main lines of the Gospel of Israel’s story, but it retells this story within the context of Jesus’ life.
The first part of this theme is the reality of God’s own determination to dwell among humankind in a locatable way. That is, in a way that we might say, “God is there.” The Old Testament passage from the first book of Kings recounts Solomon’s dedication of the temple in Jerusalem. The priests have placed the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord in the most holy place in the inner sanctuary of the house, and when they came out, the glory of the Lord filled the house of the Lord such that the priests could not even stand there to minister.
### Solomon’s Prayer
As Solomon lifted his hands and recounted the details of the covenant that God had made with David and his descendants, he prayed not only for the Israelite but also for the foreigner, that is, for the Gentile, asking that whoever prays towards the temple, the locatable point of God’s dwelling on earth, God would hear in heaven, heed, and forgive, so that His name would be made known throughout all the earth. That’s Solomon’s prayer.
In this sense, Solomon’s temple is an early sign of the reality that Israel’s God is the one who determines to dwell with and among humankind in such a way that He is capable of being located. Everyone following me so far? That’s the God whom we serve.
### God’s Presence in Christ
Now, in Christ, God, in no uncertain terms, has demonstrated God’s determination to be among us in a locatable way. Paul writes that in Christ, God was reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them. Therefore, Christ’s resurrection proclaims the good news that because of God’s union with us in Him, we too have been raised to new life. We have been raised to eternal life in Him.
### Understanding New Life
How might we understand this, friends? How might we understand this new life in Him in a practical sense? We can say these things and they sound good, but how do we understand it in a practical sense? Today’s Collect, we prayed, “Almighty God, we are taught by your word that all our doings without love are worth nothing.” Then we prayed, “Lord, send your Holy Spirit and pour into our hearts that most excellent gift of love, the true bond of peace and of all virtue.”
We are taught most famously that all our doings without love are worth nothing. Everyone knows that passage from 1 Corinthians 13: “If I speak the tongues of mortals and angels but do not have love, I am nothing. I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give away all my possessions, if I hand over my body so that I may boast, but do not have love, I am nothing.”
### The Gift of Love
So all the good works that we might think about or conceive of doing in this world are worth nothing if we do not have love. The only way we can have that love which makes every good action worthwhile is by first receiving that love from God. Pour into our hearts that most excellent gift of love, the true bond of peace and of all virtue. By grace, God has determined to live with and among his human creature. The love that God gives us is nothing but God’s self. Let’s not miss the point. The love that God gives us is nothing but God’s self. For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son so that everyone who believes in Him may not perish but may have eternal life.
### God’s Love and Our Love
There is not God and then something separate called God’s love. They are not two separate realities but one. Therefore, as a human being, I may love you and demonstrate that love for you in any number of tangible ways, but at the end of the day, I am not my love. But God is love.
So as Christians, we confess that if you want to know what God’s love for humankind looks like, if you want to know what God’s love for the world looks like, look no further than the whole life of Jesus Christ, because that’s where you’re going to find it. When we pray, asking God to pour into our hearts that most excellent gift of love, we are not asking for warm sentimental stuff. We’re not asking God to warm our hearts and give us that pitter-patter feeling, but rather we are asking that God in Christ would come into our hearts and govern our lives from the center of our being, so as to conform our lives to His through the power and presence of His indwelling Holy Spirit.
### The Temple of Our Bodies
The temple Solomon dedicated in Jerusalem was an early indication, an early sign pointing forward to our time, to the reality that the temple of our very bodies is where God comes to dwell. Revelation 3:20–the risen Christ says, “Listen, I am standing at the door and knocking. If you hear my voice, if you open the door, I will come into you and eat with you, and you with me.”
### A Humble Cry
Our prayer in today’s Collect is nothing other than our humble cry for God to fill our lives just as He filled Solomon’s temple. It is our prayer for real communion with the living God, to bring us back to what is truly all-important here, which is that we actually encounter this God who is at the heart of our worship. Like Peter, come to the conviction that He is the Holy One of God, that He alone has the words of eternal life.
### Overcoming Distractions
In my own journey and ministry thus far, it has become increasingly apparent to me just how easily we, as believers, can become distracted from this Jesus who desires to be at the heart of our worship, from this God who yearns to be the object of our worship. On one hand, as believers, we may become distracted by the sorts of comfort zones or comfortable routines in which we allow our lives to settle, such that our faith often goes unchecked or unchallenged from day to day. We may be lulled into thinking that we may rest on our laurels and exert no further initiative to grow deeper in the knowledge and love of God.
On the other hand, we may become entirely absorbed by the cares and concerns of this life, such that the Word of God or the things of faith have little or no effect or impact in our lives. They become optional extras. If I have time to do it, if I have time to go to church, if I have time to study the scripture, if I have time to spend on the things of God, then I will engage it.
### Building Other Homes
In both these instances, whether we have become laxed or absorbed by so many other things, we set about building other homes, other shelters for our lives. We miss out on the wonderful gift of communion with the living God, which God gives us specifically in Jesus Christ within the temple of our bodies.
Like David, we want to build a house for the God who cannot be contained. We want to build homes and shelters for our lives, which were not meant to shelter our lives when God Himself wants to come and dwell within us.
### Standing in Faith
My brothers and sisters, the reality is that in coming to live among us, God does not invite us to build Him a temple, or to build other temples. Instead, He invites us to come and to stand in faith and in obedience to Him, to allow Him to build us into His temple. Jesus is at the heart of Christian worship. Our battle is to remain focused. It’s not one against flesh and blood. The weapons we employ are not the traditional weapons of war.
We are called to stand in the truth of Christ, in His righteousness, to be conformed to His life, always ready to proclaim the gospel of His peace. He gives us faith in Him, not worthiness, so that we may be able to stand in the knowledge of our salvation–the certain knowledge that we have been, that we are being, that we will be saved. Our only offensive weapon, if we listen carefully, is the sword of the Spirit, the Word of God. That alone is sufficient, friends.
### The Journey Ahead
So as we fight to share this life with Christ at the center, let us never forget: there is no wound that mortal flesh can ever inflict upon us that Christ is not able to heal. Let us press on. This God whom we worship has given us His own flesh for the life of the world and, in doing so, He invites us to communion with Him, to truly love Him. Let us return to Him above all else, for the outpouring of this most excellent gift of love, because that for which we pray is the One who is our eternal life.
Amen.
Posted on: August 18th, 2024 by St. Stephens Downsview
A Reflection on John 6:56
It’s always heartening to see familiar faces again, and today is no exception. Despite many of our friends traveling somewhere between Pennsylvania and Toronto after attending St. James Episcopal Church this morning, it’s a joy to share this time together with you. This morning, I want to share some profound words from John’s Gospel, specifically chapter 6, verse 56. In these words, Jesus said, “Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood, abide in me, and I in them.”
The Identity of Jesus
The Gospel of John is unique in how it reveals Jesus’s identity through various signs and statements, attributing to Him roles that elucidate His divine nature. It includes at least seven “I am” statements where Jesus describes Himself in different metaphors to highlight His identity:
– I am the light of the world.
– I am the door or gate to the sheep.
– I am the good shepherd.
– I am the resurrection and the life.
– I am the vine, you are the branches.
These statements provide us with multi-faceted perspectives on Jesus’s divine identity, akin to viewing different sides of a precious jewel. The statement that resonates with me today is Jesus’s declaration: “I am the bread of life. I am the living bread which came down from heaven.”
The Meaning of “The Bread of Life”
Jesus’s statement, “I am the living bread which came down from heaven,” invites us to delve deeper into its meaning. He says, “Whoever eats of this bread will live forever. And the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh.” This statement is startling and immediately raises questions: Is Jesus urging us to literally eat His flesh and drink His blood? Historically, this led to accusations of cannibalism against early Christians, as misunderstood by second-century critics of the faith.
The Jews of Jesus’s time were equally perplexed, asking, “How can this man give us his flesh to eat?” Pressing further, Jesus insisted, “Unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in you.” This provokes a deeper contemplation on taking Jesus’s life into ourselves, so His life becomes our own, reinforcing that we live through His life.
The Physical and Spiritual Nourishment
On a spiritual level, Jesus’s words might seem metaphorical, but there’s an unmistakable physical and tangible aspect in John’s gospel. Jesus’s proposition is balanced between the physical act of the Eucharist and the spiritual reception of His life. Bishop N.T. Wright comments that by Jesus’s sacrifice, symbolized through Good Friday, His followers can truly partake in His life. This is not merely symbolic; it’s an invitation to receive the manifold benefits of His saving death, both spiritual and tangible.
The Desire for Christ
To receive these benefits, there must first be desire. Think about a moment in a store; our children always want to buy everything they see. This raw desire must be trained and focused. Similarly, to receive Christ’s benefits, we must deeply desire and seek them with our hearts. Solomon’s story in the Book of Kings illustrates this perfectly. When God asked Solomon what he desired most, he chose wisdom to govern God’s people over long life or riches. This choice demonstrated Solomon’s higher desire—to walk in God’s wisdom.
Walking in Wisdom
In Paul’s letter to the Ephesians, walking in wisdom is equated with being filled with the Spirit. Contrary to some dramatic portrayals, being filled with the Spirit means living wisely every day, modeling our lives after Jesus Christ. This sober, wise living is necessary as evil lurks around us, and our nourishment comes from above—the bread of life.
The Eucharist as our Nourishment
Jesus offers a profound promise: “Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood have eternal life, and I will raise them up on the last day.” The Eucharist, or Holy Communion, is central to this sustenance. It is not a magical rite, but a profound means by which Jesus continues to give Himself to us. During the pandemic, many felt a profound absence because we could not gather and partake in the Eucharist. This highlights the depth of our need for this divine nourishment.
Closing Prayer
So, I pray that God grants us a continual desire—a deep hunger and thirst for His life within ours. May we all be filled with the living bread that came down from heaven, for whoever eats this bread will live forever. This is not just good news; it is the ultimate gift of life from Jesus Christ.
**Let us pray.**
Living God, you are the giver of wisdom and true discernment, guiding those who seek your ways to choose the good. Mercifully grant, Lord, that your people, feasting on the true bread of heaven, may have eternal life in Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Posted on: August 11th, 2024 by St. Stephens Downsview
Dear brothers and sisters,
Last week, I mentioned I wouldn’t dive into lengthy preaching, but here we are sharing the wisdom.
Many of you have known me for a long time. Imagine if one Sunday I stood before you and declared, “I am the bread of life. Whoever believes in me will never die.”
Would you believe me, knowing who I am? Likely not. You’d think, “Isn’t this Leonard? He used to come here years back.”
Food. It’s something we all talk about. Everywhere you go, food matters. You see people lined up for food because they are hungry. But what is food, really?
Let me turn this question to you: What is food? It’s sustaining, nourishing, and comforting. That’s what some of you have said, and you’re right. Food is anything that you consume that sustains you. But there’s more to it—let’s explore.
The Essence of Food
Everything God created as a living organism eats. Ants eat, birds eat, even lions eat their prey. Similarly, we clamor for food. The ancient Romans would eat to their fill, go to the washroom to vomit, and come back to eat more. Food was that significant to them.
Last week, I mentioned that Jesus said, “I am the bread of life.” This statement has profound implications. Bread signifies sustenance and nourishment. But Jesus wasn’t just referring to physical bread; He was talking about something much deeper—spiritual nourishment.
The Significance of Bread
In many cultures, bread is a staple. In my hometown, for instance, bread includes corn and plantain dough. In ancient times, bread was crucial to daily sustenance. Jesus’ statement about being the bread of life was monumental. He said, “I am the bread of life. He who eats this bread will never be hungry.”
For the people around Jesus, bread was not just food; it was life. When He declared Himself as the bread of life, He was making a theological statement—He was claiming to be God. This was controversial at the time. They wondered, “Isn’t this the carpenter’s son?” Yet, Jesus boldly said, “Before Abraham was, I am.”
The Implication of “I Am”
When Jesus said, “I am the bread of life,” He was equating Himself with God. The phrase “I am” echoes back to when God spoke to Moses through the burning bush, saying, “I am who I am.” This sacred name signifies God’s eternal presence and sufficiency.
So when Jesus used “I am,” He was not just talking about physical sustenance but spiritual sufficiency. He was telling us that He is enough, that in Him we find all we need.
Understanding Spiritual Food
As Christians, we often come to church looking for physical solutions, focusing on temporal needs. However, Jesus calls us to look beyond the physical. He offers spiritual food that changes our whole being, making us Christ-centered.
We often prioritize physical wealth and forget the spiritual riches that Jesus offers. The spiritual food Jesus provides transforms us, aligning our hearts and minds with God’s will. It feeds our soul in ways that physical food never can.
Jesus, the Door and the Bread
Jesus declared, “I am the door” and “I am the bread of life.” As my colleague noted, Jesus is also the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Him. This means our spiritual journey begins with Jesus. He is the door to spiritual fulfillment and eternal life.
Final Thoughts
In conclusion, our priorities as Christians should be to seek spiritual nourishment over physical wealth. This involves setting our focus on Jesus and His teachings. Understanding that He is our spiritual bread and door means embracing the spiritual essence of His word.
As you engage with the scriptures, do so with the intent to inwardly digest them, using them to guide your life. Remember, Jesus is sufficient for all our needs—He is our spiritual food, and in Him, we find everlasting nourishment.
In the name of God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Posted on: August 5th, 2024 by St. Stephens Downsview
Dear readers,
Today, I want to share some reflections on a poignant story that resonates deeply with our human experience—the story of David and Bathsheba. Whenever we read this story, our judgments vary. Some blame Bathsheba for bathing on the rooftop; others point fingers at David. The reality is, this story encompasses many layers of human actions and consequences.
Recently, I found myself pondering why this narrative, laden with so much moral complexity, is included in the Bible, a book we consider holy. My research led me to a profound realization about human frailty. David, before becoming king, had a heart that God himself cherished. He was close to God, a figure both revered and flawed. Theologians describe David as a king, priest, and prophet, yet his actions reveal his vulnerability.
David’s story, although ancient, mirrors our current realities. When bestowed with power, unchecked authority can lead to impunity, arrogance, greed, and corruption. These issues persist in our society today, affecting everyone from religious leaders to politicians. David’s narrative serves as a reminder that no one is immune to these flaws.
When the prophet Nathan confronted David, he did so with wisdom and diplomacy. Instead of outright condemnation, Nathan shared a parable that resonated deeply with David, leading him to realize his own guilt. David’s response is telling—he confessed and sought forgiveness. This act of contrition highlights a significant biblical theme: the power of sincere repentance and divine forgiveness.
Nathan’s method of guiding David to self-awareness and confession teaches us an essential lesson about judgment. We are often quick to judge others without understanding the full scope of their actions or motivations. David’s repentance and God’s forgiveness illustrate that no sin is too great if one sincerely seeks forgiveness.
Moreover, this story calls us to introspection. We must recognize our own flaws and seek divine forgiveness. God’s capacity to forgive is boundless if we approach Him with humility and genuine remorse.
Turning our focus to unity, another crucial teaching emerges from the Epistles of Paul. Paul emphasized that unity in the Christian community is not based on similarities, but on the love of God. Despite our diverse gifts and roles, we are united in our purpose to serve God. This unity is reinforced through fellowship—coming together to utilize our unique abilities for mutual edification.
The diversity of gifts within the Christian community mirrors the early church. Some were apostles, prophets, teachers, and seers, all working towards a collective goal. This collaborative effort underscores the importance of using our gifts responsibly and for the common good, rather than for self-aggrandizement.
Reflecting on our contemporary Christian landscape, I often marvel at the proliferation of churches. Despite this, there seems to be a disconnect between our faith and societal progress. It is crucial to remember that our gifts are meant to foster community and support one another, not create divisions.
Let us consider the metaphor of family. Each family has its own set of challenges, but ideally, it operates on mutual support and love. Similarly, the Christian community should function on these principles, helping each other grow in faith and love. This is the essence of our fellowship—a community built on compassion, understanding, and shared purpose.
In closing, I urge you to delve into the Gospel of John, particularly the passages where Jesus asks, “Who do people say I am?” Reflect on who Jesus is to you personally and how His teachings influence your life. Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life,” inviting us to find spiritual nourishment and fulfillment in Him.
May these reflections inspire you to seek unity, forgiveness, and a deeper understanding of our shared faith.
In the name of God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.
I hope to see you all next week.
Leonard Abah
