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Nine weeks into the season of Pentecost brings us deeply into two stories that shape faithfulness and teach life lessons. In the first lesson, a devastating spiraling effect continues in David’s family this time involving the revolt by one his favored sons, Absalom. Lots of brokenness and lessons within that story! In the gospel lesson we continue the conversation between Jesus and several detractors that spiral like concentric circles around Jesus’ claim to be the Bread of Life. The second lesson (Ephesians 4) takes a look at what makes for a healthy Christian community as well as what can destroy Christian community. Together or individually, these lessons provide a feast of insight, drama, and life lessons.

2 Samuel 18:5-9, 15, 31-33-Deep Wounds in the Family

This lesson reveals deep fissures in the royal family that include finally the death of one of King David’s beloved sons. The lesson carefully selects salient parts of a longer narrative that will get the main idea across: the rebellion fomented by Absalom is put down and the kingdom is brought back under David’s rule. A secondary narrative thread is that of a troubled relationship between a father and son-though estranged and facing him as an enemy, David hopes to spare his son from death. Absalom, however, dies violently at the hands of Joab and the episode ends in the pathetic groans of a grief-stricken father: "O my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom! Would that I had died instead of you, O Absalom, my son, my son!"

Ephesians 4:25-5:2-Things That Make for Christian Community

In this lesson Paul continues the practical instructions which form a response to the eloquent statements of God’s love as portrayed in the first three chapters of Ephesians. The verses that begin this section list specific community-defeating behaviors followed by positive Christian community-building virtues. Chapter five continues the positive theme with an exhortation that Christians imitate God just as children sometimes imitate their parents. Jesus Christ, the writer insists is the role model par excellence from which we can draw our inspiration.

John 6:35, 41-51-Bread From Heaven

The conversation of innuendo and double-meaning between the "Jews" and Jesus continues as Jesus clearly tells his listeners that he is "the bread of life" (vs. 35, 48) "that came down from heaven" (vs. 38, 41). Embedded in the conversation is the important theological issue about human freedom to respond in faith vis-à-vis God’s initial act in drawing humanity to respond appropriately. Jesus’ conversants express energy around the literal possibility of Jesus’ words: "how can he now say, ‘I have come down from heaven?’" Jesus answers their bafflement by noting that everyone requires some help in coming to faith in him as God’s Sent One from heaven. Also included in this conversation is the allusion to Moses and manna and "from heaven."