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Exodus 16:2-4, 9-15 * Ps 78:23-29 * Ephesians 4:1-16 * John 6:24-35

Have some of you seen the delightful 1995 movie called Babe, about a pig who learns to herd sheep? Babe the pig learns that the best way to avoid being eaten is to prove yourself useful. Is that true for us too? While we’re not in much danger of being eaten, although I do check carefully for cougars when I let Pepper out before bed, we all like to feel useful. And there are countless ways to do that. Dawna Wall recently sent me this poem by Marge Piercy called 'To be of use': https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/57673/to-be-of-use.

In today’s gospel, when the crowds ask Jesus: “What must we do to perform the works of God?” we have a similar theme – of people wanting to be useful to God. Our NRSV gospel today makes it sound like all we need to do is believe in Jesus, and we’ve fulfilled our duties towards God. And many Christians have adopted that attitude – that you just need to BELIEVE! … and then you’re saved. I think Peterson’s Message bible explains things a bit better: “To that they said: “Well what do we do then to get in on God’s works?” Jesus said, “Throw your lot in with the One that God has sent. That kind of a commitment gets you in on God’s works.” (v. 28-29). So, getting in on God’s works is an action thing, not just worship – it’s a commitment to do God’s work. A progressive online pastor called Roger Wolsey, author of the Kissing Fish book, puts it this way:

“Some progressive Christians prefer to refer to themselves as “followers of the way of Jesus” … It helps keep the focus on what Jesus intended – off of him, and more on the way, and the God, he was seeking to invite people to experience and follow.”

Of course, we Christians believe in Jesus, but how does that change our lives? How does that change our view of, and response to, the needs and suffering in our world? Pope Francis said something like this: ‘First you pray for the hungry, then you feed them – that’s how prayer works’. Jesus had just fed the multitudes prior to today’s gospel, so he’d shown them a good example of how he thought the works of God should be performed. As Jesus says elsewhere, like in Mt 7: “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of [God] in heaven.” Or in Mt 21 where it’s the son who actually goes to work in the vineyard -- that is obeying his father, not the one who just says so, but doesn’t go. Of course, no one can know for sure what is God’s will, and to presume that we know can easily veer towards arrogance. But we certainly have the works and loving example of Jesus as our model & guide.

In our epistle today, Paul is writing from prison to the early Christian community at Ephesus and is pointing out that there are many kinds of discipleship – many paths that God has given us “to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ” (v.12). We, as the body of Christ on earth are called to participate in all the ways that Christ’s compassion – feeds, nurtures, heals and encourages all those who suffer from humanity’s many injustices and conflicts, and other obstacles to the peace and health that God intended for all living beings. Just like Jesus starting the feeding miracle with the sharing of one person’s food, so we too can open ourselves to what God’s grace can do through our sharing of ordinary gifts, talents and resources.

Two Saints Ministry has often been exemplary in its following of the WAY of Jesus – ways of compassionate caring and response to the needs of those who suffer. And as Paul says “with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love” – that’s what I’ve seen at Two Saints, and may it be a blessing for your path going forward, Amen.