Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ
Reflection
Jesus said to the Jewish crowds:
-John 6:51
“I am the living bread that came down from heaven;
whoever eats this bread will live forever;
and the bread that I will give
is my flesh for the life of the world.
Bread! Is there anything more basic to Western Civilization than bread? I think not! As a child growing up, my mother had daily chores for all seven of her children. We took turns dusting the furniture, taking care of my little sister, Dee, doing dishes… The chore I liked best was going to the local bakery and getting two large loaves of white bread sliced and one rye without seeds. If I was lucky, I would have to wait until the bread was cooled enough to be sliced and the ladies behind the counter (yes more than one lady in the ’50’s) would give me a cookie or two while I waited. I always tried to get there as early as I could.
I started making my own bread during the covid lockdown. I developed a connection with a Jewish lady at the baking supply store when I first came looking for a bread box. She guided me in my learning path. That is a whole story. Eventually, I got a grain mill to grind locally grown wheat berries and make my own flour and until this day, every week I make at least one loaf of freshly ground sourdough bread. It takes twenty-four hours. All that goes to say, bread has become central to my diet as evidently it was to the Hebrew People as they fled slavery and took responsibility for their nutrition and sustenance on their journey. I believe Jesus is referring to this history when he says in our scriptural passage today,
“I am the living bread…”
So, I must ask myself the question: “Is bread really that basic to life and good nutrition, or is it just another cheap answer to a made-up problem? Is it just a prototype of the life process, or is it the life process?” My answer would be it is the life process. Let me explain. I once heard it said we all run on solar energy collected by plants (grass grains) which are nourished by the air, water and earth. That sounds to me like the life process at least of our physical bodies. I also intuitively know, I am more than my body. I am connected to the earth, to the plants and to every living thing with a spiritual connection. For me, that connection when it is loving and not fearful is the Holy Spirit, the Spirit all our scriptures refer to time and again.
Thank you God for the gift of life and help me follow your son Jesus, in giving of myself fully by serving all those you put in my life today in the spirit of Your love.
