Pentecost 14, 2024
Joshua 24:1-2a,14-18
Psalm 34:15-22
Ephesians 6:10-20
John 6:56-69
In the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen.
Did we just have yet another gospel reading where Jesus says that he is the bread of life that has come from heaven and that anyone who eats of this bread will have eternal life? Yes we did. We most certainly did. Today we have finally got through these five Sundays in a row on the sixth chapter of John’s gospel, and our eyes have kind of glazed over, and it all feels a little bit like the movie Groundhog Day, but with bread.
However, today, when we take the gospel reading about bread, in the context of the reading from Joshua and the segment from Paul’s letter to the Ephesians, we find a whole other theme that we haven’t had in a while. And that theme is, living in community. Living in a community that God has called together, for our mutual benefit, and for our common life together. Community.
So, let’s start with Joshua. The reading we heard this morning includes that familiar phrase, "but as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.” You’ve probably seen that around, on bumper stickers, and t shirts, and on probably half the plaques they sell at the P. Graham Dunn factory, over in Dalton. As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord. It’s a nice enough phrase and all, but I think the reason it is so popular a slogan is because it strikes a little bit of a defiant tone. Like planting a stake in the ground of my unwavering individual commitment to God. And I can’t help but think it borders right on the edge of being like Peter on the Mount of Olives saying, “Even though these others might fall away Lord, I will never deny you.” Just saying.
But here’s the thing about the context of Joshua’s seemingly defiant individualist tone. Nobody said they were not going to serve the Lord. This is in no way a response to any decisions anyone has made. It’s like Joshua gets up on a stump and says, “I alone shall serve the Lord!” And the people are like, hey Josh, take it easy there buddy. Far be it from us not to serve the One who brought us out of slavery in Egypt. Far be it from us to forget the One who led us through the desert all those years. Like, we’re all on the same team here. We saw what you saw. We lived what you lived. We too will serve the Lord, because we are a community. We have always been a community. The chosen people of God. In community.
And then notice how today's gospel reading ends. After all this talk about bread and feasting on the body of Jesus, some of the disciples turn away, because this is a hard teaching. And so Jesus asks the twelve, “Do you also wish to go away?” Simon Peter answers, “Lord, to whom can we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and know that you are the Holy One of God.” Sounds similar to the ending of the Joshua reading, right? Which of course is why the lectionary planners put these two readings together in the first place.
But notice that Peter says to whom can we go? And also, we have come to know and believe. Peter is not doing the individualistic stake in the ground thing, like with Joshua’s “as for me and my house.” No, Peter knows that they are a community with Jesus. They’re in this together. Nobody is making a personal decision to follow Jesus. And you know how I know that? Because of verse 70, the verse right after where our reading stopped.
After Peter says, “Lord, to whom can we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and know that you are the Holy One of God.” Jesus then says to the disciples, “Did I not choose you, the twelve?” Did I not choose you? Think back to who it is Joshua is talking to: God’s chosen people. And here we have Jesus speaking to God’s chosen disciples. And remember, the disciples didn’t form a little club and then decide to go follow Jesus. No, over and over, Jesus says to one or two people at a time, “Follow me.” And they do. One by one, pair by pair, Jesus assembles this ragtag crew of disciples. And that’s why he says to Peter, “Did I not choose you, the twelve?”
People of St. Timothy’s, you also are part of a community God has chosen and called together. We were not some established social club that one day decided we would follow Jesus. Rather, God called us, one by one, two by two, family by family. We were all personally called into this community of faith. And we continue to move forward together in faith, guided by the Holy Spirit.
And what do we do together, as this community of faith God has called into existence? Well here’s where we can turn to Paul’s letter to the Ephesians. In this final chapter of Ephesians, Paul is giving a whole lot of advice by way of a pep talk. It’s not written to individuals in their personal faith walk. Rather—like most of Paul’s letters—it is written to all the Christians living in a particular city at a particular time. When he uses the pronoun “you,” it’s plural. It’s, y’all. So then, these encouraging words are written to a community of believers, like the group Joshua is talking to, like the 12 disciples Jesus is talking to. And notice what Paul says . . .
You Ephesians—y’all—need to put on the whole armor of God. All y’all put on this armor of God together. And that beginning makes it sound like it’s going to be militaristic right? Like, “People of Ephesus, gird your loins, for we ride at dawn!” This armor is just a metaphor of course; and notice what all these things have in common. A belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness. Whatever footwear will make you able to proclaim peace. The shield of faith, and the helmet of salvation. Those are all defensive armor. Nothing in that list is designed to hurt anyone, but only to protect ourselves. And we get one weapon. This must be where God gives us an offensive tool to smite our enemies, right? Something to divide ourselves from the households that do not choose the Lord! Alright Paul. Give us the offensive weapon, with which we shall smite the unbelievers!
And this powerful weapon is . . . the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. All of this defensive armor, plus whatever footwear will help us proclaim a word of peace, and our only offense is the word of God. Nothing about denouncing sinners, or rejecting those with whom we disagree. Our only advance is the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
And there’s more! Because he doesn’t say, put on all this defensive armor and get out there to do battle! Instead he says, put on these things, and take up the word of God and . . . stand. Not run, not march, not even walk. No, prepare yourself with the whole armor of God and stand. Together. Stand.
It’s like he is flipping on it’s head the old familiar saying, "Don’t just stand there, do something." Paul is suggesting the opposite. Don’t just do something, stand there.
Stand there together, and let God be God. Don’t just do something, stand there at the font and remember that you are a baptized and beloved child of God. Don’t just do something, stand there before this Altar and receive the body of Christ, the bread that has come down from heaven. Don’t just do something, stand here, remembering that God has called you into a community of faith that can change the world.
God has given us this armor to put on together. And God does not call us to do impossible things. Rather, God tells us to just stand there, and let God do impossible things for this world through us. A beloved community, called out of isolation, called out of separation, and called into this community that has come to know and believe that Jesus is the Holy One of God. Lord, to whom can we go? To no one else but the one who redeems and strengthens us to stand together and proclaim the everlasting love of God. Stand in this community, and watch God change the world.
Amen.
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