The Ninth Sunday after Trinity - Reflection by Canon Leslie

Last Sunday the Gospel reading was John’s account of the feeding of the five thousand. Today and the next three Sundays, the Gospel readings reflect deeply on that event. In John’s Gospel the feeding of the five thousand opens the way for Jesus to teach about himself as the bread of life.  In this teaching Jesus contrasts the need for physical food with the need for spiritual food.  The followers whom Jesus desires to attract are those who have seen through the physical feeding to its spiritual significance.  Jesus exhorts them, ‘Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures for eternal life.’
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For those of you who wanted to do some thinking and preparation for today’s service during the preceding week, I invited reflection on the image of sell-by-date. In today’s picture, from their book, Bread, Aled and Sian are captivated by the freshly baked bread in the shop window.
 
Lord Jesus Christ,
you taught your people
to work for the things that last.
Give us grace to follow your teaching,
that we may share with you
the things that really matter;
for you are the Bread of Life.
Amen.
 
Next Sunday continues with a further reading from John’s Gospel, in which Jesus says, ‘Whoever eats of this bread will live for ever’. The image to help us to prepare for next Sunday’s theme is communion bread. You can find out more about that theme here https://www.prayerforliverpool.org/prayer-resources.html. We would really appreciate you letting us know how you are using these materials. Please send us your ideas and photos of the things you may create; email them to [email protected].
 
To read the story, Bread, in its entirety, follow this link to the resource on the St. Mary’s Centre website: http://www.st-marys-centre.org.uk/resources/Exploring%20Why%20Series/Bread/Bread%20Short%202016%20WEB.pdf. To learn more about the Exploring Why series and more adventures with Aled and Sian, follow this link to the appropriate page under the Resources section of the St. Mary’s Centre website: http://www.st-marys-centre.org.uk/resources/Exploring%20Why.html.
 
You are warmly invited to join us in worship online. We are livestreaming our 10:30am service on both our Facebook and YouTube pages. To stream the service on Facebook, follow this link to our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/LiverpoolCathedral. To stream the service on YouTube, follow this link to our YouTube page: https://www.youtube.com/user/LiverpoolCathedral/videos.
 
Aled and Sian send their Sunday greetings to all.
 
Canon Leslie