Light, Bread, and How We Are Fed

“I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

“I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.”

- Jesus, John 8:12 and John 6:35

Warning: Mixed metaphors ahead.

So, this past summer, we had frogs at our house. Not the kind that make a lot of noise, but tree frogs. Lots of them. Almost in biblical-plague-like numbers. Ah, but I exaggerate. Still, we had lots of frogs.

They kept appearing at night on our front porch. I would see them through our glass door. They perched on our mailbox. They clung to the bricks. They rested on our porch light. It was both cool and creepy at the same time.

This went on every night, for weeks. Only with the cooler weather have the frogs finally gone away.

One night I stayed out on the front porch for a few minutes to watch the frogs. They were as still as statues, mostly looking at the porch light. Small moths, gnats, and other night bugs were also flying around, attracted by the light. Suddenly, one of the frogs stretched its neck, opened its mouth, and gulped down a hapless moth that had just wandered into the no-fly zone. It happened in the blink of an eye.

It turns out that the light had become the feeding spot for the frogs. The frogs came to the light to be fed.

It got me to thinking: Jesus is the light of the world. Jesus is the bread of life. When we come to Jesus, we are fed for eternal life.

I told you that I was mixing my metaphors. Don't say I didn't warn you.

But really, where do you turn to nourish your soul? We are bombarded by all sorts of things that pollute and corrupt the unwitting soul every time we turn on the TV or surf the web. What do you do to provide healthy nourishment for your soul?

I think we should take a lesson from the frogs. Go to the light – to Jesus, the Light of the world. If we spend enough time in his light, we will be fed.

P.S. Don't take this metaphor too far. Because it doesn't work if you are a moth or an insect – they got eaten at the light. Focus on the frogs.

A Prayer

The thought of my affliction and my [bitterness]
    is wormwood and gall!
My soul continually thinks of it
    and is bowed down within me.
But this I call to mind,
    and therefore I have hope:

The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases,
    his mercies never come to an end;
they are new every morning;
    great is your faithfulness.
“The Lord is my portion,” says my soul,
    “therefore I will hope in him."

- Lamentations 3:19-24, NRSV

A Prayer

Shock.

Terror.

Sickened.

Numb.

Grieving.

Confused.

Heartbroken.

Angry.

What words are there, O God, to describe how we feel?

How can we possibly wrap our minds around the slaughter in Las Vegas?

     One man and his guns.

     Over 50 dead, hundreds wounded or injured.

     A city reeling in the aftermath.

     A nation in shock, mourning, grief.

Is there no limit to the evil that people are capable of perpetrating on one another?

Can we not put a cap on the human capacity for evil?

Our hearts ache.

Our hearts groan.

But before we ask you to tend to the tumult in our hearts, O Lord, we direct your compassion and your mercy upon those whose lives have most acutely felt the wrath of this evil act:

     The families of the dead

     The injured and the wounded

     The first responders and medical professionals who must

     still perform their duties in the face of unspeakable horror

     The city of Las Vegas

     The pastors, rabbis, clerics, counselors, and caregivers

          who will be providing comfort and care

          in the days, weeks, months ahead.

In the midst of the evil and chaos, we pause to give thanks for

     the law enforcement officials who acted with speed and

          precision

     the civilians who administered care to the wounded

     the emergency personnel whose actions saved lives.

And now, O Lord, also tend to our hearts.

Grant us peace, we pray.

     Not simply absence of hostility,

     but peace in our hearts;

     peace that comes from the assurance of

          your love which is from everlasting to everlasting

          your righteousness that always prevails

          your providence by which you work all things toward

               your purpose of redemption.

Grant us peace.

Let this truth fill our hearts:

     that nothing in all of creation

     will ever be able to separate us from your love

     in Christ Jesus our Lord.

          Nothing.

          Not ever.

As a world grapples with a response to this senseless slaughter of innocent human beings, help us to show the way of Christ:

     trusting in you and your faithfulness

     manifesting your grace

     working for reconciliation and justice.

After the shock wears off

and the blame game begins

(because we know it will)

make us the voice of Christ who said,

“Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted...”

“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled...”

“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God...”

“Love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you...”

“Put your sword back into its place; for all who take the sword will perish by the sword...”

“Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing...”

"You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul,

and with all your mind,

and with all your strength.

And you shall love your neighbor as yourself."

Make us the voice of Christ.

Saving God,

     All creation groans for the redemption that awaits us.

     We are groaning today, for the need for redemption

     is as great as ever.

In our groaning, we wait for you.

We look for you.

Come, Lord Jesus.

Heal us.

Comfort us.

Strengthen us.

Amen.