51I am the living bread which came down from heaven; if any one eats of this bread, he will live for ever; and the bread which I shall give for the life of the world is my flesh." 52The Jews then disputed among themselves, saying, "How can this man give us his flesh to eat?" 53So Jesus said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of man and drink his blood, you have no life in you; 54he who eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. 55For my flesh is food indeed, and my blood is drink indeed. 56He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me, and I in him. 57As the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so he who eats me will live because of me. 58This is the bread which came down from heaven, not such as the fathers ate and died; he who eats this bread will live for ever."
We are created in God’s image. We live life to its full by being re-born in Christ. To accept Christ’s sacrifice for us is to accept the invitation to eternal life. But what does acceptance mean? In tomorrow's reading, Jesus tells the rich man to sell all he has. Acceptance of Christ is undisputedly the hardest thing we are called to do in life. But accepting that call is the only way we are guarenteed eternal life. It demands a death to ourselves, a rejection of sin, a denial of self and an acceptance of sacrifice. This guarantees pain, suffering and anguish. The disciples who met Christ post-resurrection showed us that if we can get Christ etched in our hearts, our enthusiasm and commitment to his call will never wane. The disciples spent 40 years after his death holding on to his truth even after torture and persecution. Creator God. Thank you for my many talents. Redeemer Christ, cleanse me from my inequities so I can wrap the talents in love and make them gifts that bring others to your love. Holy Sprit, walk with me and give me strength to take the journey with minimal deviation.
ReplyDeleteStrengths:
DeleteYou've effectively captured the tension between personal desires and the call to discipleship.
You've recognized the importance of prioritizing spiritual values over material ones.
You've expressed a genuine desire to live a life of service and commitment to God.
Areas for Improvement:
While you've acknowledged the challenge of following Christ, it's important to explore the nature of this challenge in more depth. What specific obstacles might hinder our ability to fully embrace His call?
The concept of "dying to self" could be explored further. What does this mean in practical terms, and how can we cultivate this mindset?
The role of the Holy Spirit in empowering believers to live a life of sacrifice could be considered in more detail.
Additional Thoughts:
The passage raises questions about the relationship between wealth and spirituality. How can we use our resources to further God's kingdom?
The disciples' response to Jesus' call can be seen as a model for our own discipleship journey. What can we learn from their faith and obedience?
Overall, your response is insightful and demonstrates a strong understanding of the passage.