Sermon for Proper 13B
Judy
Dear Friends,
This Sunday’s sermon is entitled “Food for the Body vs. Food for the Soul” and deals with all the lessons. Here it is:
This morning in our Old Testament lesson (Exodus 16: 2-4, 5, 9-15) we heard how God provided the Israelites with very badly needed food for their hungry bodies. As you recall, God used Moses to work a mighty miracle by leading them out of Egypt- the land of slavery. When the Egyptian army followed them to bring them back, remember how God parted the Red Sea (Sea of Reeds) when they were trapped- so they could escape. When the Egyptian army tried to follow, God allowed the Sea to close in on them, and God’s people were safe. Next he gave them the Ten Commandments and made a covenant with them. Then on they traveled walking to the Promised Land. There was one problem, however. It’s pretty hard to find food in the desert, and they got hungrier and hungrier. In Exodus 16:2-3 we heard the people complaining about Moses, saying they were better off in Egypt. Did you hear the story of the little boy whose mother had just come home from the hospital with a new baby sister? That baby cried and cried- nobody in the family could get any sleep. Finally the little boy asked where they got that new baby. His mother replied, “From heaven.” “Listen to her cry!” he exclaimed. “I’ll bet even God couldn’t shut her up!” No wonder they threw her out and she landed down here!” That’s how the Israelites were- loud, crying, and complaining, until God had pity on them and sent them food (manna). Every morning when they woke up, there was this bread-like substance on the ground- enough for one day’s food for everyone (two days before the Sabbath so they wouldn’t break the fourth commandment). Manna, plus the occasional quail that foolishly landed where they could be caught, made an amazingly nutritious diet. Manna provided food for the body- sustenance to keep them going mile after mile to the Promised Land.
In today’s Gospel (John 6:24-35) we heard Jesus describe how God provides food for the soul. In verse 35 we hear Jesus say about himself: “I am the Bread of Life. No one who comes to me will ever be hungry. No one who has faith in me will ever be thirsty.” Now we’re talking soul food. Billy D. Strayhorn, in Bread of Heaven, describes it this way: “Steven Morris was a special needs child in Mrs. Bernaducci's class. Steven was a thin African-American boy who was blind. His handicap negatively impacted his self-esteem. However, over a period of time, the teacher realized that Steven had exceptional hearing. One day she put the class mascot, a mouse, into the trash can. The scratching noise created a minor panic until Steven located the mouse. Mrs. Bernaducci exclaimed: "Steven, you are truly a wonder." The nickname caught on. The next year little Stevie Wonder, full of a sense of his own value, began playing the piano. Stevie 'Wonder' would go on to influence and change American music all because of Mrs. Bernaducci's faith and encouragement. We all need that kind of encouragement. Especially in times like this. Times that try our souls. Times that cause stress and uncertainty. Times when we want of word of direction from God but God seems to be silent. We need a word of encouragement. And that's what we get when we come to this table. A little bit of bread and a little bit of wine remind us that Christ died for us to prove God's love for us.”
Our problem comes when we know we’re hungry, but we think we need strength for our body, but we really need strength for our souls. Do you remember the story of the pastor who wanted to convince his children not to smoke, drink, or eat too many sweets? He got four jars and four worms. Next he filled one jar with cigarette smoke, one jar with cheap whisky, one jar with a hot fudge sundae, and one jar with good moist soil. Finally he placed a worm in each jar. Of course, you know what happened. All the worms died except the one in the jar with soil. “There,” he said to the children. “Look at all these dead worms- only one lived. What can you learn about life from these worms?” “That’s easy!” said Sally. “If you smoke, drink whisky, and eat hot fudge sundaes- you won’t get worms!” She surely missed the point! The trouble is- we miss the point too. We misdiagnose our hunger- just like the child misdiagnosed the purpose of the pastor’s experiment.
So- when you have a hunger that you think you must fill, but you know it’s not good for you- try Jesus!
When that cigarette cough is making you begin to worry- try Jesus!
When you need that drink to get you started in the morning- try Jesus!
When you need the TV on to be able to fall asleep- try Jesus!
When that sexual partner who’s not good for you comes knocking- try Jesus!
When you can’t shut the worries off in your brain- try Jesus!
The Holy Bread He offers you today at our altar will be in every cell in your body claiming life and health and joy for you.
For anyone who is interested, this sermon and updated African-American wisdom statements are posted on our parish’s web site under “Sermons & Stuff”. The address is: http://www.stpaulsepisag.org .
Blessed preaching,
Judy Boli
St. Paul's Episcopal Church
Saginaw, Michigan