Mmmmm, yummy bread.
I know where you can get the best.

“I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me will never hunger, and whoever believes in me will never thirst.”

When I came to the Capital Region one of the first things I did was to look for good bread. Which store, which bakery in the area makes the best bread?

Why the search? I searched because bread is basic to life. From my earliest years I was taught to both enjoy bread and to respect it. Of course my Busha made the best bread. We so enjoyed what she created with love. We were also told of hunger – the hunger our parents and grandparents felt during the great depression. Crumbs of bread weren’t wasted; we didn’t let them fall to the floor. More importantly, we were taught that bread is a symbol of Jesus – the Bread of Life that feeds us so we are never hungry. As such, we respected bread.

When I moved into my first house my mother arrived bearing a package of bread and salt – that the house would never know hunger, that there would be flavor to life – a very special blessing and prayer I will always remember. We use the same symbols when our bishops visit us – to welcome them.

The Israelites were in trouble and they hungered in bondage in Egypt. God set about to free them, not just from bondage, but to truly free them. When Moses stood before the burning bush he asked God about His name and God said “I Am.” Tell the Israelites: “I Am has sent me to You.” God sent me to you to free you.

Jesus faces much of the same questioning today. He’s fed the multitude, done amazing signs, yet people keep asking – who are You? Jesus again uses the phrase “I Am,” this time referring to Himself as the Bread of Life.

Jesus says “I Am.” He is God – all powerful, Almighty, to be worshiped, adored, served, believed in, and listened to. Better than that, He is God who knows and understands us because He became man – He felt all our joys and triumphs as well as our tribulations, sufferings, and tears. Particularly, He felt our hunger.

God knows us and knows that we hunger, not as much for food and water – although there are still too many who go without – but at a more basic level.

So Jesus came to us to truly free us. He didn’t just come to perform signs and feed us for a day – but to feed us with all we need – and to make it last forever. Remember the one place with the best bread.

What were they looking at?
Unfortunately, only themselves.

“His heart was moved with pity for them, for they were like sheep without a shepherd; and he began to teach them many things.”

Tom Allen tells the story of a large bowl of Red Delicious apples, placed at the front end of the cafeteria line at Asbury College, a school that trains Christian leaders. The note attached read: “Take only one please, God is watching.” Well, some prankster attached a note to a tray of peanut butter cookies at the other end of the line. It read: “Take all you want. God is watching the apples!”

We laugh. Why? Because we know that God sees all things in all places, all at once. That is God’s self-revelation in scripture. He is Omnipotent, which means He is Almighty and all-powerful. God is Omnipresent meaning everywhere at all times. God is Omniscient, knows all things. Nothing can be hidden from Him.

Sometimes we forget these facts. We become like the leaders of the people in the time of Jeremiah. They stood there looking at themselves, taking care of their needs, and forgetting their responsibilities; the fact that they were to be representatives and models of God living among His people. They looked at themselves and forgot that God was right there, knew their hearts, and was looking at them.

Christians do forget that their Father knows everything equally and effortlessly. This truth often fails to be in the front of our hearts and minds, slipping out of our conscious thought.

Our culture has dethroned God, shrunk Him down to size so to speak, and has little or no time for His All-seeing, holy Presence. We live among people who can only think of ways to limit God’s claim on their lives, or justify their ignoring His call.

We need to focus our efforts starting with our lives. We need to put God ever in our hearts and minds. We need to recognize His presence in our lives. Remember that He knows all we think, feel and do.

Next, we are to do as Jesus did in today’s Gospel. We are to look beyond our needs to the needs of those around us. We are to respond, even when we have other plans, even when it is inconvenient. We are to be good shepherds leading people to God by our responsiveness, our words and actions. Know God’s presence, see it then act on it. Don’t be afraid because He is watching – rejoice to know He is with us in the way we love.

How can I glorify You?
Sing my symphony of love!

“In him we were also chosen, so that we might exist for the praise of his glory, we who first hoped in Christ.”

A young man wrote: Why am I angry? This morning, I became angry after someone hurt me. I just realized that I had no place to go with my anger and so I kept it within although outwardly I appeared pleasant. This was a pattern of living that led to my burnout and depression of a few years ago. There is something here that the Lord wants to work on.

I was just reflecting on Ephesians and what struck me was the repetition of “to the praise of His glory.” I was chosen, adopted, redeemed, forgiven and given hope in Christ and the indwelling Spirit and the reason: It is all about Him– “to the praise of His glory.”

I realize that anger often results in me when I think and act like it is all about me. Lord, forgive me–how often my life is lived–not to the praise of Your glory but for my pleasure, comfort, insecurities, fears. I perceived that my rights were violated today and I became angry which only reveals that it was all about me at that point. Thank you God that there is ongoing redemption, forgiveness and hope in Christ. To the praise of His glory!!!

Today we learn of Amos’ journey to Bethel after God called him. When confronted, Amos told Amaziah who he was; a simple shepherd and a dresser of sycamores called by God. He didn’t react in anger. He didn’t quit and run back home. He stood his ground to praise and glorify God by doing God’s work.

Paul tells the Ephesians to concentrate on glorifying God because of the great riches of grace God has given us in Jesus.

Jesus sent out His disciples to deliver a message — that something wonderful had happened. God entered the world and salvation had come. Sins were to be forgiven. Healing was to take place. We have a home in God’s heart; a new song to sing.

This is the Divine symphony, a song of great love, of triumph, of security, release from sin, healing. Our job is to go out like Amos, like the Ephesians, like the disciples – because that is what we are.

We set forth from this house of worship, not with iPods or radios, but with the music of the Divine symphony within us.

So many need this music, this message – that God’s symphony is for them too. Stand like Amos and deliver. Go like the disciples and praise Him by our music – the word of God.