Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

-

The Sacrament of Holy Qurbana

John 6:26-35


Swithin Titus

St. Johns MTC, NY

35 Jesus 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.

As a child my favorite part of service was always the sermon.  I was always fascinated by the people who would stand every Sunday morning and talk about how amazing God was. They would share their stories of how God saved them and turned their lives around.  As I grew older and I began examining my faith - I got sad.  Why didn't God reveal Himself to me the way He had to everyone else? Desperate for a sign I often found myself questioning God.  



Then one day, God decided to reveal himself to me.  I was elected lay leader in my parish. To say I was ready would be disingenuous.  Like most teens, I viewed service as a ritual. Something we did over and over again until it became so ingrained into our muscle memory that every Sunday whether we were at church or not, we found ourselves repeating the Nicene Creed.  

In John 6:25-36, Jesus had just performed two miracles back to back: feeding the 5000 and walking on water.  If that happened today, it would have been shared by millions via twitter and most of us would have laughed it off and said "no way that's real- its got to be CGI". The reaction would not have been much different even in those times because faith was lacking.  

When the followers found Jesus, they asked, “Rabbi, when did you get here?” Jesus replied "Very truly I tell you, you are looking for me,  not because you saw the signs I performed but because you ate the loaves of bread and had your fill."  Even after such an outward display of his heavenly powers, Jesus knew that they had not come because their faith compelled them, but because they saw these amazing things and sought their own superficial gain.  

In vs. 30-31, the people went on to ask Jesus for a sign, similar to Moses in the wilderness, that would prove He was indeed who He said He was.  Unfazed by their inability to comprehend the signs he had already performed, Jesus perfectly responded  "I am the Bread of Life.  Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty. " (vs. 35).  

Through my service as a lay leader and the mentoring of some wonderful achens I learned a great deal about our Mar Thoma service and how it is deeply rooted in traditions that trace back thousands of years.  I realized that God had already been speaking to me.  He was always revealing Himself to me.  Every Sunday He even invited me to His house- to partake in His body and blood.  I celebrate His resurrection and await His coming again. I was trying so hard to have that amazing story that I was missing the point itself.  I didn't need a "wow" moment! 

Prayer: Father God, help us to open our eyes to what is before us. We seek you daily and come to your presence humbled by what we have been given and what you have bestowed upon us. Allow us to be more and more open to you Father and build our relationship so that others can see Your influence in us! Help us to be examples of Your light. Our Lord and everlasting refuge. Amen!


Thought for the day: Don't waste time searching for our God who stands before you everyday!

Popular posts from this blog

Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

-
  Constant, patient and welcoming love of God   St. Luke 15: 11-32  V.21: And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight, and am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ The parable of the ‘Prodigal son’ is one of the most frequently quoted parables that Jesus told His disciples. The parable contains the rich mine of human virtues and emotions. This parable is lived and re-lived in progressing civilizations from time immemorial and continuing. It brings out in vivid detail the pathetic depth of human sinfulness and the glorious heights of God’s forgiveness.      As a story of human nature, fathers are generally merciful to their children in any circumstance. They are very protective and are eager to provide for and secure the lives of their offspring. Jesus is telling this parable to underscore the superlative love of God to His children. The nature of such love is reiterated by Jesus in Matthew 7:11. Humankind wh...
Read more

Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

-
Revelation for Liberation Acts 27:18-26 Sherine Thomas Long Island MTC, NY 20  When neither sun nor stars appeared for many days, and no small tempest raged, all hope of our being saved was at last abandoned. “After winter comes the summer.  After night comes the dawn.  And after every storm, there comes clear open skies” so said a Scottish clergyman from the 1600s. It’s been said, that hope can sometimes be the most dangerous weapon.  However, it’s sometimes the hardest weapon to carry when you’re living with the loss of a loved one, something that almost feels like a terrible nightmare that’ll never go away.  It’s a weapon difficult to carry when day in and day out no one seems to hear or see those tears that are shed or silent cries that are made during a heartfelt prayer. It’s a weapon difficult to carry as you see your loved one lying on that hospital bed.  It’s a weapon difficult to carry as you search and seek out answers to tel...
Read more

Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

-
PRIESTHOOD: THE ANOINTED MINISTRY Exodus 40:12-16 Bring Aaron and his sons to the entrance to the Tent of Meeting... wash them with water. Then dress Aaron in the sacred garments, anoint him and consecrate him so he may serve me as priest (Exodus 40: 12-13). Priesthood among the people of God was a divine command and initiation. God wanted some people to be separated for the special ministry among his people. God appointed Aaron and his descendants to take up this kind of ministry among the people of God. Priests are always separated and appointed as channels that connect God with his people. All throughout the history of Israel, priests played an important role in connecting people with God and to lead and guide them in the statutes of God. But there are incidents in the Bible where the priests failed in their duties and that led the people to go away from God. So the priests have a special and significant ministry to perform in this world among his people. Two important things...
Read more