True Bread

Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures for eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For it is on him that God the Father has set his seal.’ Then they said to him, ‘What must we do to perform the works of God?’ Jesus answered them, ‘This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.’ So they said to him, ‘What sign are you going to give us then, so that we may see it and believe you? What work are you performing? Our ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written, “He gave them bread from heaven to eat.” ’ Then Jesus said to them, ‘Very truly, I tell you, it was not Moses who gave you the bread from heaven, but it is my Father who gives you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is that which comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.’ They said to him, ‘Sir, give us this bread always.’ Jesus said to them, ‘I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty. But I said to you that you have seen me and yet do not believe. Everything that the Father gives me will come to me, and anyone who comes to me I will never drive away; for I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will, but the will of him who sent me. And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me but raise it up on the last day. This is indeed the will of my Father, that all who see the Son and believe in him may have eternal life; and I will raise them up on the last day.’ John 6:27-40

When the weather allows, which it really hasn't this summer, I truly enjoy baking bread. There is something to the process that is fundamental. I have to feed the yeast and wait for the risings, ready to knead the bread over and over again, hands covered in flour and dough. Like all of life, it is a messy, slow process. We are impatient in this age, wanting immediate gratification. Yet as one of my professors used to say, "fast and dirty is just dirty." The bread of life is a deep and patient commitment to the depth of our hearts and souls. Jesus is not a flash in the pan, but an eternal promise, an eternal presence that loves us completely, we who are messy, slow and often impatient.

Gracious Creator, our food and our stay

you sent manna from heaven to wanderers

you feed those who were so lost and alone

and you sent us Jesus the true bread of life.

We are impatient and we are greedy

wanting more than our bellies can hold

thinking we will be satisfied in fast food

yet you are the food we truly long for.

Help us to live patiently in this time

when we hunger for new strength and vision

let us trust that you are feeding our souls

and restoring your love in this world. Amen