READ! Sometimes referred to as “the staple in one’s diet”, “life-giving’, “food for the hungry”, “the staff of life”. In the 6th chapter of the Gospel according to St. John, bread is the theme. Feeding the hungry is the focus.
“the process of coming into that right relationship with God takes time and patience.”
During the past summer, there were several Sundays that I conducted Morning Prayer Services while our rector was on vacation. The subject matter of the homilies I shared with the congregation reflected the theme of the Gospel readings; a theme that seemed to be all about a kind of hunger and how best to satisfy it.
We are all familiar with Jesus’s powerful words, words spoken to make his listeners sit up and take notice. “I am the bread of life” he says, “whoever comes to me will never be hungry.” We know what kind of hunger he is referring to, a hunger that can only be satisfied by a deep and abiding faith and a belief in the One who is called the Messiah.
I am reminded of G. Jeffrey MacDonald’s article featured in “The Living Church”, January 2021, “Deacons emphasize that their call is to be prophetic in interpreting the world to the church.”
One of the greatest needs in the world is Food Security, having enough to eat. A Deacon’s ministry of servanthood may very well include helping provide food for the hungry, whether through food banks, community gardens, or education about growing one’s own food. In many parts of the world bread is one of the most important foods in a basic diet.
To answer the call and be involved in any ministry, that reaches out to our brothers and sisters around the world, takes energy and strength, calls for love and compassion, entails knowledge and experience. Deacons require regular nourishment themselves. We require the resources and a strong foundation to go out into the community. Deacons need to eat of the “Living Bread”, the food that is the result of our belief, our faith and our constant commitment to our Creator.
That is why I find the message in Chapter 6 of St. John’s Gospel so satisfying. It is filled with the nourishment that gives us the strength and confidence to minister to one another.
Before ordination to the diaconate, I remember a lengthy period of waiting. At times, nothing seemed to be happening. I always wanted to see immediate results. Bread-making is similar. It is not a quick process. It takes time and patience. So too, the process of coming into that right relationship with God takes time and patience. Sometimes it seemed like an eternity for me during the months and years of preparation. At times, I grew impatient. But now, thinking back, that’s when my appetite was whetted, my hunger was apparent, I was being spiritually nourished. Was I being fed the “Bread of Life?” I believe it was, day by day.
I believe that each one of us has the ability to be a symbol of that “Bread” to one another. We can be examples of God’s love, mercy and forgiveness. We can provide nourishment in ways that we may not even be aware of. To stand beside someone, to support them, to be present, to be the hands and feet of Jesus in the world, how wonderful is that?
One evening, some time ago, I received a telephone call informing me that one of our parishioners had just passed away. He had died suddenly in his home and his widow was alone. Could I go to her? As I was changing into the appropriate clothing, it suddenly crossed my mind. I had not done this before. Could I minister to her in the way she needed? Would I be a help or a hindrance?
As I drove to her home, I prayed that God would guide me in the right direction. I did feel I wouldn’t have been called unless I was meant to be there. This was what I was ordained to do. God did guide me and was present every moment during that evening. We prayed together and read scripture. She talked about her husband, their life together, her children, her family. As I was nourished by our Creator, I was nourishing her just by listening. And during those hours, I felt I was also being fed by her outpouring of love. I believe we were in that right relationship with God.
To me, this is what the “Bread of Life” is all about, knowing that during the good times and during our darkest hours, we will not go hungry. Even in times of pain, grief, loss and sadness, we are being fed, as we feed another. May we always accept this nourishment and eat of it. May we be the “Bread” to each other.
