Our Daily Bread

"Give us this day our daily bread...." Matthew 6:11

Bread.

What else is so essential, symbolic and energy-filled?

What other food is a cultural icon and one of the world's oldest staple foods?

Is anything quite as satisfying, fiber-rich and texture-diverse?

In the delightful children's book, "Everybody Bakes Bread" by Norah Dooley,

a young girl is sent on an errand on a chilly, rainy day.

Throughout the day, she is warmed by various breads and connection

as she visits the homes of her many international neighbors.

(The book even includes recipes for the breads mentioned in the story.)

And whether it is bagel or baguette, flatbread or focaccia,

injera, chapati, pita or tortilla,

lavash, mantou, shokupan or soda bread,

or so many others...

it's true:

We may shape bread differently, but we are shaped by bread.

Because any way we slice it, tear it or share it, bread is a connector.

We break bread together!

And any way we serve it, bread is a carrier for other food groups.

Pizza, papusas or pita pockets, anyone?

Bread is climate and ingredient, community and tradition, and a culinary cornerstone.

Bread is life.

And depending on our want or need, give us this day....

the warm and sweet bread of comfort which soothes us, body and soul,

or the coarser-textured bread to chew on needing longer to digest,

or the anchor and grounding of bread that binds everything else together.

"Give us this day our daily bread." Matthew 6:11

Bread, this daily need.

Historically, other foods supplemented bread.

Meat was eaten only at special occasions, and produce availability varied.

Biblically, bread was the mainstay and metaphor for life and sustenance,

God's provision, and spiritual nourishment.

And while we have many more options available to us today,

bread (including other grains and carbohydrates) help make a meal complete.

As we make our plates in life and recovery,

add your bread or grain in peace.

Because no matter the current "shape" of any food and dietary guidelines,

peace comes with a Peaceful Plate.

For Peace's sake.

Both the body and brain thrive with balance and consistency.

For Inclusion's sake.

All food groups belong: Grains, Produce, Protein/Calcium, and Fat.

For Variety's sake.

We vary our plant/animal sources of food based on accessibility,

affordability, season, preference, environment and sustainability.

For Synergy's sake.

Nutrients act (and taste!) better when combined.

Truth be told,

it takes a trustworthy teacher to give trustworthy guidelines.

And long ago,

people amassed in crowds to follow a Teacher,

eager to have someone see them,

eager to have someone speak Life.

So they followed and gathered and surrounded the Teacher.

But before offering any guidelines, the Trustworthy Teacher said,

Sit. Prepare to be fed.

Receive this bread and give thanks.

Share. Let nothing be wasted that you have received. (John 6)

Truth be told,

it's trustworthy to this day:

It's good to take a seat to eat.

It's good to receive our food with thanksgiving.

It's good to share all of our gifts.

But the Teacher had more.

After nourishing them so that they could think and focus,

only then did He give the True reveal:

"I am the bread of life." Jesus, in John 6:35

While the crowd was still chewing, Jesus said that He is both Savior and Satiety.

While the people were still digesting, Jesus stated that He is the one needed daily.

While they passed the shaped loaves, Jesus said that He is the one who will shape their lives.

This Teacher knows Truth.

"Man does not live on bread alone but on every word of God." Deut 8:3 and Matt 4:4

This Teacher is Truth.

"Blessed are you who hunger now, for you will be satisfied."

Bread and Word.

Physical and Spiritual

Essential nourishment.

Our opportunity?

Take and Eat.

"Reading scripture (the Word) is not information only but formation:

God is shaping our thoughts and feelings through these words."

-The Little Blue Book, Bishop Ken Untener

How might the Bread of Life shape us daily as we partake?

Will we seek the warm and sweet Words of comfort which soothe us, body and soul -

perhaps an encouraging Psalm, Song or Proverb?

Or the more coarse and textured Words to chew on needing longer to digest,

such as the letters of Paul or the prophets?

Or the anchor and grounding of Words

that bind everything else together,

like the Gospels with the very words spoken by Jesus, the Word, the Bread of Life?

Take and eat, bread and Word.

Word and Bread.

Essential nourishment.

Sit. Prepare to be fed.

Receive this bread and give thanks.

Share. Let nothing be wasted that you have received.