14th Sunday after Pentecost 2024

Welcome to St. John the Divine Episcopal Church! On August 25, 2024, we will celebrate the 14th Sunday after Pentecost with a Rite 2 Mass. This service allows us to unite in worship, reflect on God’s Word, and strengthen our commitment to faith.

Readings for the 14th Sunday after Pentecost

Old Testament: Joshua 24:1-2a, 14-18

Joshua gathered all the tribes of Israel to Shechem, and summoned the elders, the heads, the judges, and the officers of Israel; and they presented themselves before God. And Joshua said to all the people, “Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel: Long ago your ancestors—Terah and his sons Abraham and Nahor—lived beyond the Euphrates and served other gods. Now therefore revere the Lord, and serve him in sincerity and in faithfulness; put away the gods that your ancestors served beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the Lord. Now if you are unwilling to serve the Lord, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served in the region beyond the River or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living; but as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.” Then the people answered, “Far be it from us that we should forsake the Lord to serve other gods; for it is the Lord our God who brought us and our ancestors up from the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery, and who did those great signs in our sight. He protected us along all the way that we went, and among all the peoples through whom we passed; and the Lord drove out before us all the peoples, the Amorites who lived in the land. Therefore we also will serve the Lord, for he is our God.”

Psalm: Psalm 34:15-22

The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are open to their cry.
The face of the Lord is against evildoers, to cut off the remembrance of them from the earth.
When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears, and rescues them from all their troubles.
The Lord is near to the brokenhearted, and saves the crushed in spirit.
Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord rescues them from them all.
He keeps all their bones; not one of them will be broken.
Evil brings death to the wicked, and those who hate the righteous will be condemned.
The Lord redeems the life of his servants; none of those who take refuge in him will be condemned.

Epistle: Ephesians 6:10-20

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his power. Put on the whole armor of God, so that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For our struggle is not against enemies of blood and flesh, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, so that you may be able to withstand on that evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. Stand therefore, and fasten the belt of truth around your waist, and put on the breastplate of righteousness. As shoes for your feet put on whatever will make you ready to proclaim the gospel of peace. With all of these, take the shield of faith, with which you will be able to quench all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Pray in the Spirit at all times in every prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert and always persevere in supplication for all the saints. Pray also for me, so that when I speak, a message may be given to me to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it boldly, as I must speak.

Gospel: John 6:56-69

Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood abide in me, and I in them. Just as the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so whoever eats me will live because of me. This is the bread that came down from heaven, not like that which your ancestors ate, and they died. But the one who eats this bread will live forever.” He said these things while he was teaching in the synagogue at Capernaum. When many of his disciples heard it, they said, “This teaching is difficult; who can accept it?” But Jesus, being aware that his disciples were complaining about it, said to them, “Does this offend you? Then what if you were to see the Son of Man ascending to where he was before? It is the spirit that gives life; the flesh is useless. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life. But among you there are some who do not believe.” For Jesus knew from the first who were the ones that did not believe, and who was the one that would betray him. And he said, “For this reason I have told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted by the Father.” Because of this many of his disciples turned back and no longer went about with him. So Jesus asked the twelve, “Do you also wish to go away?” Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom can we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and know that you are the Holy One of God.”

Reflection on the Readings

This Sunday’s readings challenge us to consider our commitment to God and the strength we draw from Him. In Joshua, the Israelites are called to choose whom they will serve, reminding us that our faith is a deliberate choice to follow God, who has been our protector and guide.

Psalm 34 reassures us that God is attentive to the righteous, listening to their cries and delivering them from trouble. It is a comforting reminder that God is near to those who are brokenhearted and that He redeems the lives of His faithful servants.

In Ephesians, Paul exhorts us to “put on the whole armor of God,” equipping ourselves with truth, righteousness, faith, and salvation. This passage emphasizes our spiritual battle and the importance of being prepared, not with physical weapons, but with spiritual strength.

The Gospel of John brings us back to the heart of our faith in Jesus as the “bread of life.” His teachings challenge us to deepen our relationship with Him, understanding that it is through Him that we receive eternal life. Even when the teachings are hard to accept, we are called to trust in His words, as Peter did, recognizing that Jesus alone has the words of eternal life.

Hymns for the Service

The singing of these hymns will enrich our worship:

• Opening Hymn: “I Come with Joy” (304)
• Closing Hymn: “Alleluia! Sing to Jesus” (460)

These hymns will guide us in expressing our joy and gratitude for the spiritual nourishment and salvation we receive through Christ.

Join Us in Worship

We invite you to attend Rite 2 Mass at 9 a.m. in person at 116 E Chandler Blvd or through our live stream. Let us unite to reaffirm our commitment to God, be strengthened by His Word, and celebrate the gift of eternal life through Jesus Christ. Whether you are a regular attendee or new to our community, you are welcome at St. John the Divine Episcopal Church.

Let us gather to proclaim our faith and be equipped with God’s armor as we journey together in His service. See you on Sunday!