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As I mentioned last week, we welcome Fr. Mark Kowalewski to church this week where he will be both preacher and celebrant for both services. Please give him a warm St. John's welcome!

This Sunday, the lectionary ends the Bread of Life discourse from chapter 6 of John's Gospel. Some of the disciples remark, "This teaching is difficult, who can accept it?" The Gospel can be hard to accept because it makes us confront things about ourselves we'd rather not remember and let go. But only in Jesus can we truly let it go because it is forgiven. Erased. Scrubbed from our souls. Indeed, when we feast on the Bread of Life we are going through a spiritual cleanse. This isn't just taking communion, mind you, but feasting on all the spiritual graces and blessings bestowed upon us.

In the Letter to the Ephesians reading, Paul's famous words of "putting on the armour of God" also mirrors such a feasting. We are not fighting against our flesh and bones but powers of darkness that seek to destroy us. If you've ever read C.S. Lewis' classic The Screwtape Letters, you know what I mean. We have access to the belt of truth and breastplate of righteousness, because in the Bread of Life is found the what is needed to be prepared for our Christian lives.

We are soon to start a new program year. A new school year for some. A new year in which we can perhaps renew our lives in those spiritual blessings, so that whatever the future may hold, we know we are walking with God's protective love over us.

Yours in Christ,
Fr. Zach