Then and now we challenge God to provide us a “sign” that we’re not alone in our desert wanderings and times of crisis. Stories that we’ll hear this weekend remember that from time to time God does indeed give notice that there’s a power beyond ourselves, not dependent upon our good works or spiritual acrobatics. These probably happen more than we think; I know that God has to knock me on the side of the head with a special mallet with my name on it in order to see that which is right before my eyes… What? You too?
WE begin with I KINGS 19:4-8, a story about the prophet Elijah. A synopsis: there hadn’t been rain in Israel for a long time, and the crops were dying. The priests of Baal had engaged YHWH’s man, Elijah, in a contest on Mt. Carmel to see whose sacrifice would be accepted. You probably remember how nothing happened when the Baal-ites prayed–but when Elijah prayed, fire came down from heaven and consumed even the impossibly wet sacrifice! A sign, fer sure! And then it started raining, another sign. Queen Jezebel was angry with Elijah for showing up “her” priests and then killing them: “you’re dead meat,” she said, or something like that. So our text finds Elijah on the run to Mt. Horeb/Sinai; discouraged, he lay down to die, but an angel woke him with food and drink for the journey–ANOTHER sign. God had more for Elijah to do.
EPHESIANS 4:25-5:2 is more of an admonition than a story, yet it’s full of signs given by the grace of God. As the community and its individuals (“members of one another”) become transformed into the image of Christ, certain traits appear: honesty, compassion & forgiveness, meaningful work and encouragement. Likewise jealousy, bitterness and angry words will vanish, and the marks/signs of the Holy Spirit will be observed. These marks identify the Christian responder as beloved property of God, not to be harmed. Those willing are invited to deliberately embrace this discipline of intentional response to the work of Christ among them.
The Gospel (are you surprised?) is from JOHN 6:41-51, more conversation about Jesus’ announcement that he is the bread that comes down from heaven. What a claim, said the traditionalists! “In being so direct,” says Will Willimon, “Jesus provokes a crisis in our apprehension of him. Now there is no room for evasion on our part….Whatever we need in order to comprehend Jesus must come as a gift, insight not of our own devising. It must ‘come down from heaven’.” (FEASTING on the WORD, B 3:337). Two concepts here shock our comfortable spirituality: first, that any salvation is generated in heaven; and second, that this “bread” sign is given to those whom God wants to involve. (As a United Methodist, I believe that these involved by God are ALL humanity; others will opt for a doctrine of holy election.)
The difference between a SIGN and a SYMBOL, I dimly remember, is that a symbol becomes the visible part of an invisible concept (money, or the flag); and a sign has no value of its own, rather it points to that which IS valuable. Be as it may, this weekend’s lessons bring signs to the lonely, the doubtful, the grieving and the seeker.
In the process of unfolding, Horace Brown King
My meditations on scripture readings assigned to the upcoming weekend can be found every Tuesday at horacebrownking.com
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