ADVENT BLOG   Named by God - “Bread of Life”

“I am the bread of life.  Whoever comes to me will never go hungry,

and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty”

(John 6: 35)

When I was unable to eat solid food following recent surgery what I really missed was my daily diet of tea, toast and marmalade in the morning.  What a joy it has been to get past the “pureed” phase and get a bit of tasting and comforting toast!  Just as a baby needs to move on from a diet of milk and pureed food that he or she might grow strong, we need to go onto the spiritual solids - the food and the drink that a relationship with God in Christ can provide.

The very first “I AM” saying of Jesus is so unlike yesterday’s word because it is the most basic of foodstuffs yet, not always readily available.  In many parts of world especially at this moment in time where even on our own doorstep people are depending on food banks and other such charities.

Here Jesus is dealing with a spiritual want because people are coming to him time after time running on empty.  Many are looking for signs and wonders and are in danger of turning him into some kind of religious showman.  He is talking about bread.  He takes them back to basics as he teaches them a lesson in what it means to turn to him and be fed by him in his words and by his example.  He longs for them to depend on him, not just now and then but, on a daily basis as all of us depend on daily sustenance for our bodies.

We all need that God shaped part of who we are to be filled that we might grow in our understanding of who God is in Christ and what it means to us and for us.  We also learn from Christ what it means to grow in our love for him and each other - what it means to live a life of faith that we might be bread for others, feeding minds, bodies and souls with the good things that God provides for all.

How do you hunger and thirst?  What is your life filled with?  Do you snack on the teaching of Christ or do you enjoy a sumptuous feast filling your life to overflowing with the good things of God?

God of healing and transformation,
we hunger and thirst for your abundant life.
We bring you our sorrow and ask for the bread of joy;
we bring you our despair and ask for the bread of hope;
we bring you our weariness and ask for the bread of inspiration.
Meet us where we are.
We need the bread of heaven to sustain us
as we journey to find our way,
that we may we be one with you and one with each other.
In Jesus' name we pray.

Amen.

(A Mennonite Prayer)