Bread of Heaven

Then the Jews began to complain about Jesus because he said, “I am the bread that came down from heaven.” They were saying, “Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How can he now say, ‘I have come down from heaven’?” Jesus answered them, “Do not complain among yourselves. No one can come to me unless drawn by the Father who sent me; and I will raise that person up on the last day. It is written in the prophets, ‘And they shall all be taught by God.’ Everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to me. Not that anyone has seen the Father except the one who is from God; he has seen the Father. Very truly, I tell you, whoever believes has eternal life. I am the bread of life. Your ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died. This is the bread that comes down from heaven, so that one may eat of it and not die. I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats of this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh.” John 6:41-51

Yesterday, we gathered as a diocesan staff to celebrate a belated Pi Day due to the snowstorm. It gave us a chance to gather for lunch and bring pies, savory and sweet to share. We also got to celebrate +Alan's upcoming birthday and ordination anniversary. The fellowship around food shared is extraordinary. Others wandered in, who were coming for a service and joined in with delight. Food joins people from diverse place into one huge family at the table. Jesus finds himself under attack again from the religious leaders, for saying he is the bread from heaven. Indeed, like the feast yesterday, he is the sustenance and joy that brings us all together and makes us one huge family at the table.

Loving God, you call us to gather

with friends, family and strangers

knit together by you in one family

a people fed by your heavenly bread.

We often set limits and bar strangers

we too often hide among our kind

yet you call us to fling the doors open

to set the table and trust your love.

Help us know that you are with us

when we welcome the stranger

when we make a bigger table

for you are our bread from heaven always. Amen.