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<P style="FONT-STYLE: normal; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0in" class=indent><FONT size=4>John
6:54 (56-58) "The (person) gnawing on my flesh" John chose the verb "gnaw" to
show the graphic nature of Jesus' statement. In the mind of the Christian, there
is a direct connection between partaking in the very being of Christ and eternal
life. They are one and the same.</FONT></P>
<P style="FONT-STYLE: normal; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0in" class=indent><FONT
size=4><></FONT></P>
<P style="FONT-STYLE: normal; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0in"><FONT size=4>But it was not
enough for the follower to simply take polite bites. He or she needed total
involvement (hence the verb that meant "gnaw" or "chew"). The Christian should
continuously gnaw on the living bread like a good barbequed pork rib. The act
was to be messy. The act required total immersion, total concentration, total
commitment. The act itself caused scandal.</FONT></P>
<P style="FONT-STYLE: normal; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0in"><A
href="http://www.word-sunday.com/Files/b/20-b/A-20-b.html"><FONT
size=4>http://www.word-sunday.com/Files/b/20-b/A-20-b.html</FONT></A></P>
<P style="FONT-STYLE: normal; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0in"><FONT size=4>Larry
Broding</FONT></P>
<P style="FONT-STYLE: normal; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0in"><FONT size=4>- - - -
-</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoBodyText><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt"><FONT size=4>This is Jesus
drawing lines, dividing his followers between those who are looking for a
handout and those who will go the distance.</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoBodyText><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt"><FONT size=4>Quite literally,
Jesus is telling us; “If you are not willing to share in my death and drink from
my suffering then you should turn back now.”</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoBodyText><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt"><FONT size=4>How do we
introduce this type of commitment into our “social club congregations”
today? So many churches deny their role of ministering to the wounded and
bleeding Jesus in the form of the outcast and needy. After Jesus preached
this message to the thousands, only the twelve remained, and even they were
struggling with this statement. Would we be counted among the twelve if we
were challenged to take our faith beyond what is comfortable?</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="FONT-STYLE: normal; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0in"><FONT
size=4><></FONT></P>
<P style="FONT-STYLE: normal; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0in"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt"><FONT size=4>It is sleep our enemy desires, dullness and
comfort, he wants us contentedly slumbering in deep repose. I believe we
will be able to tell the time is near when those who shout; “Awake, awake the
enemy is near,” are drowned out by those who shout; “Shut up, we need our beauty
sleep.”</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="FONT-STYLE: normal; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0in"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt"><A
href="http://onefamilyoutreach.com/bible/John/jn_06_51-58.html"><FONT
size=4>http://onefamilyoutreach.com/bible/John/jn_06_51-58.html</FONT></A></SPAN></P>
<P style="FONT-STYLE: normal; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0in"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt"><FONT size=4>Jerry Goebel: 2003 ©
<U>http://onefamilyoutreach.com</U></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="FONT-STYLE: normal; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0in"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt"><FONT size=4>- - - - -</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="FONT-STYLE: normal; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0in"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt"><FONT size=4>Friend of mine who left the church as an
adolescent and never returned traces his disillusionment to several incidents,
including a memorable discussion about the Lord's Supper in his confirmation
class. He asked his teacher how the sacrament was any different from the ritual
cannibalism practiced in some tribes in which they eat the body of the departed
leader in the belief that by doing so they will manifest the leader's powers.
The teacher was obviously agitated by the question and responded, "What a
disgusting suggestion! It has nothing to do with cannibalism. We're talking
about a blessed sacrament, not some primitive ritual. It's completely
different." The teacher refused to continue the discussion.</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="FONT-STYLE: normal; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0in"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt"><FONT size=4><A
href="http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1058/is_n22_v111/ai_15699990/">http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1058/is_n22_v111/ai_15699990/</A></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="FONT-STYLE: normal; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0in"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt"><FONT size=4>Martin B. Copenhaver,
1994</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="FONT-STYLE: normal; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0in"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt"><FONT size=4>- - - - -</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="FONT-STYLE: normal; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0in"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt"><FONT size=4>Check out the premise of the 'Nigerians' in
the new sci fi movie, District 9! They thought they could gain the powers
of the alien 'prawns' if they could eat them.</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="FONT-STYLE: normal; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0in"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt"><FONT size=4>- - - - - </FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="FONT-STYLE: normal; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0in"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt"><FONT size=4>The participle in verse 54, trwvgwn, is
almost shockingly graphic: it means to eat noisily, often used of animals
(“gnaw,” “nibble,” “munch”). When used with reference to people, it often has
the idea of enjoyment (Matt 24:38) and close comradeship. Some have thought it
refers to a literal feeding, and thus to the Eucharist. But this does not
follow: by anyone’s definition there must be a <B>symbolic</B> element to the
eating which Jesus speaks of in the discourse, and once this is admitted, it is
better to understand it here, as in the previous references in the passage, to a
personal <B>receiving</B> of (or appropriation of) Christ and his
work.</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="FONT-STYLE: normal; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0in"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt"><FONT size=4><A
href="http://bible.org/seriespage/exegetical-commentary-john-6">http://bible.org/seriespage/exegetical-commentary-john-6</A></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="FONT-STYLE: normal; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0in"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt"><FONT size=3> </FONT><FONT size=3>W. Hall Harris
III</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="FONT-STYLE: normal; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0in"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt"><FONT size=3>- - - - -</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="FONT-STYLE: normal; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0in"><FONT size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt"><FONT size=4>We are tempted to believe that this right
now is all that is. We show that in our attempt to enjoy as much as possible
while we are “alive.” <BR>We attempt to remain young, because old means the end.
Even in retirement complexes, those with canes, walkers, and wheelchairs don’t
want to be seen by those without these devices, because, well, they mean the
lost of independence, and the end coming.<BR><BR>As we eat and drink Jesus in
the Sacrament, I would hope that we enjoy life now because Jesus is with you
every week.</FONT> <FONT size=4>And the Blessed Sacrament received each week is
to counter the world which says life with this religious claptrap isn’t where
life really is. We need to know that “to be” is only when Jesus is in us, and it
is always “not to be” when Jesus is not in us.<BR></FONT></SPAN></FONT><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt"></SPAN></P>
<P style="FONT-STYLE: normal; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0in"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt"><A
href="http://www.predigten.uni-goettingen.de/archiv-8/060820-5-e.html"><FONT
size=4>http://www.predigten.uni-goettingen.de/archiv-8/060820-5-e.html</FONT></A></SPAN></P>
<P style="FONT-STYLE: normal; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0in"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt"><FONT size=4>Walter W. Harms, retired pastor, Austin,
TX</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="FONT-STYLE: normal; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0in"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt"><FONT size=4>- - - - -</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="FONT-STYLE: normal; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0in"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt"><FONT size=4>What do people feel is the most important
part of the worship service? In the recent past, when studies were made within
the Lutheran church, 83% of Lutherans rated Holy Communion as the most important
part of the worship service. More important than preaching. More important
than singing hymns and praise songs. More important than praying and the prayers
of the church. </FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="FONT-STYLE: normal; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0in"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt"><FONT size=4><></FONT></SPAN></P><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt">
<P><FONT size=4>Some years ago, when I was giving Holy Communion to Edie Wills
of our parish who was dying of cancer of the esophagus. She had a tracheotomy
and could speak only with airy, whispered sounds. I spoke to her the words
of John 6: “Whoever eats my body and drinks my blood (will never die) but live
forever.” She shot back at me from her hospital bed, “What did you say?” I
replied, “I didn’t say it but God’s Word said it, “Whoever eats my body and
drinks my blood will live forever.” With her breathy voice, Edie whispered
loudly and forcefully to me through her wind pipe and tracheotomy, “Give me some
of that bread and wine.” It was as if Edie had heard these words for the first
time. The words penetrated her mind and she knew that she was eating soul food
and drinking soul wine for all eternity…before her body
died.<STRONG></STRONG></FONT></P></SPAN>
<P style="FONT-STYLE: normal; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0in"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt"><FONT size=4><A
href="http://www.sermonsfromseattle.com/series_b_holy_communion.htm">http://www.sermonsfromseattle.com/series_b_holy_communion.htm</A></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="FONT-STYLE: normal; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0in"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt"><FONT size=4>Edward F. Markquart, Grace Lutheran Church,
Seattle, Washington</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="FONT-STYLE: normal; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0in"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt"><FONT size=4>- - - - -</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="FONT-STYLE: normal; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0in"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt"><FONT size=4>The promise of this new world is set forth
in the strongest possible terms when Jesus declares, "My flesh is food indeed,
and my blood is drink indeed. Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood abide in
me and I in them. This is the bread that comes down from heaven, not like your
ancestors ate and still they died, because whoever eats this bread will live
forever."</FONT></P>
<P><FONT size=4>Can this be possible? One man set free is worth a thousand
speeches. The first time I heard these words I was listening to the radio as I
drove my car down a highway in Washington, D.C. I wanted to pull over and roll
down my windows and shout to all who were passing by, "Did you hear that? Isn't
that the truth? Isn't that the God-honest truth? One person set free is worth a
thousand speeches?" </FONT></P>
<P><FONT size=4><A
href="http://day1.org/668-a_taste_of_freedom_food">http://day1.org/668-a_taste_of_freedom_food</A></FONT></P>
<P><FONT size=4>The Rev. Dr. Harvard Stephens, Jr., dean of the
chapel, Carthage College, Kenosha, WI, 2000</FONT></P>
<P><FONT size=4>- - - - -</FONT></P>
<P align=left><FONT size=4>Communion with Christ means a restoration of the
intimacy with God that brings fulfillment and satisfaction. There is no
life sustaining nourishment for the spirit to be had apart from the Lord.
<I>"I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats of this bread
will live forever..."</I></FONT></P>
<P align=left><EM><A href="http://www.lectionarysermons.com/aug20.00.htm"><FONT
size=4>http://www.lectionarysermons.com/aug20.00.htm</FONT></A></EM></P>
<P align=left><FONT size=4>John Jewell,<SPAN lang=en-us> 2000</SPAN></FONT></P>
<P align=left><FONT size=4>- - - - -</FONT></P>
<P align=left><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; FONT-SIZE: 10pt"><FONT size=4
face="Times New Roman">One must not take this passage as a description of an
actual dialogue between Jesus and some of those who followed him. Rather it
doubtless refers to a difficulty in St. John’s community over the Eucharist and
the presence of Jesus in the Eucharist, a difficulty which has plagued the
Church through it’s history, mostly because have tried to reduce mystery to
prose, to explain the inexplicable. </FONT></SPAN></P>
<P align=left><A href="http://www.agreeley.com/hom09/aug16.htm"><FONT
size=4>http://www.agreeley.com/hom09/aug16.htm</FONT></A></P>
<P align=left><FONT size=4>Andrew M. Greeley, 2009</FONT></P>
<P align=left><EM><FONT size=4>- - - - -</FONT></EM></P>
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