Prayers of the People: Grace Filled and Gluten Free ~ 10th Sunday after Pentecost, '21 Yr B

For Sunday, August 1, 2021, Readings: Exodus 16:2-4, 9-15, Psalm 78:23-29, Ephesians 4:1-6, 

John 6:24-35

    …the Israelites complained against Moses and Aaron…saying to them, ‘If only we had died…in the land of Egypt, when we…ate our fill of bread; for you have brought us…into this wilderness to kill this whole assembly with hunger.’ [Exodus 16:2-3]

      He rained down manna upon them to eat and gave them grain from heaven…So they ate and were well filled, for he gave them what they craved. [Psalm 78:24, 29]

     I [Paul]...beg you to lead a life worthy of the calling to which you have been called...But each of us was given grace according to the measure of Christ's gift...The gifts [God] gave were that some would be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ...  [Ephesians 4:1a, 7, 11-12]

      Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures for eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you....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."  [John 6:27, 35]

   As with last week’s readings, there are a few parallels among the readings appointed for this 10^th Sunday after Pentecost. In the Hebrew Testament there’s an uprising against Moses and Aaron. The Israelites are complaining about the conditions of this massive journey away from the slavery in Egypt and saying they would rather have died there as at least they ate their fill of bread. They are accusing Moses and Aaron of a plot to kill them by hunger. God hears them and brings on the manna and the meat. But of course, that will only hold them so long. We’ll have another rebellious moment in about 16 chapters while Moses is meeting with God and stays longer than those he has saved think is appropriate.
    The portion of Psalm 78 for today is filled with the imagery of God feeding the people as they travel onward with a little tweaking of the created order.
    Paul begs us to lead a life worthy of the calling outlining for us the grace and gifts that come directly from Christ to each of us. Paul sharply reminds the Church in Ephesus AND us: We must no longer be children tossed to and fro and blown about by every wind of doctrine, by people’s trickery, by their craftiness in deceitful scheming…we must grow up in every way into…Christ… WE are to discover and use the gifts and grace we’ve been given for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ.
    Jesus brings earthly appetites into focus for us now, in our own time, in our own lives. I remind myself again that the Bible is more than stories of "then" it is also "now." All that happened then is happening now, the dreadful things, the lovely things, the boring things, and the long lists of things ~ look at headlines any day of the week. The complainers, the conspiracy theorists, the accusers, even in the midst of the proof of God’s mercy and bounty, were never satisfied on the journey from Egypt to the Promised Land. It is the same today.
    The directive of what to take with us and what to leave behind on our Journey to Eternal Life, is clearly set out for us by Jesus. We are not to work for the food that perishes but for the food that endures for eternal life…   By Christ we are fed and led. Through him we are redeemed; we are forgiven. All we need to do is believe it as well as we are able, and then live into it by our words and actions, by following him. Christ, our Savior, will never abandon us. Jesus is our manna from Heaven, our Bread of Life. His are truly nourishing words, and always, always grace-filled and also gluten free. 

LET US, GOD’S PEOPLE, PRAY
 
Leader:  ~ O Lord, our God, lead us again from the child-like wilderness of blowing about in complaint, false doctrines, and by others’ trickery and deceitful scheming. Awaken us to humility, gentleness, and patience, bearing one another in love to build up the Body of Christ.
 
                                        Jesus, Bread of Life
            RESPONSE:     Our Grace, our Peace, and our Hope        
 
~ O Lord, our God, grant us the conviction to speak the truth, in love, to all who hold authority in this Community, in this Nation, and on this Earth. May our words and actions arouse benevolence and compassion and stem the tide of racism, division, and greed. We pray especially for: add your own petitions
 
                                        Jesus, Bread of Life
                                        Our Grace, our Peace, and our Hope
 
~ O Lord, our God, release from suffering all who live in the throes of chronic illness, depression, or addiction, and give strength to those who love them. We now join our hearts together to pray for those in need… add your own petitions
 
                                        Jesus, Bread of Life
                                        Our Grace, our Peace, and our Hope
           
~ O Lord, our God, release us by faith from earth-bound grief, to know that the joy of Heaven is unceasing for all live anew, in Your eternal arms. We pray especially for… add your own petitions
 
                                        Jesus, Bread of Life
                                        Our Grace, our Peace, and our Hope
 
~ O Lord, our God, we pause in this moment to offer You our other heartfelt thanksgivings, intercessions, petitions, and memorials… add your own petitions
 
                                        Jesus, Bread of Life
                                        Our Grace, our Peace, and our Hope
                       
~ O Lord, our God, refresh and energize all who are blessed with gifts as evangelists, teachers, and pastors. Guide them as they strive to equip us to know our gifts for the work of ministry, as we grow together in Christ. We pray especially for: add your own petitions
 
                                        Jesus, Bread of Life
                                        Our Grace, our Peace, and our Hope
 
The Celebrant adds: O God, Creator of All, open us to be willing and worthy to lead the lives to which we are called. Kindle our desire to turn to You again each day, to nourish our souls for the work of heaven that gives life to the world and endures for eternity. We ask through Jesus, our Divine Sustenance; and the Unity of the Holy Spirit; who together with You are One God, for all infinite, imperishable time. Amen.
 
                                        Jesus, Bread of Life
                                        Our Grace, our Peace, and our Hope

 

 

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