Chapter 6 of John's Gospel is devoted to the teachings of Jesus as the Bread of Life. We heard pieces of this chapter every day last week, so I spent a lot of time reflecting on bread. The word bread is used in a mix of ways. It provides comfort food, settles our debts, and is more valuable than anything.
bread = makes a sandwich with pb&j bread = crunchy coating for fried chicken bread = makes your money sound badass bread = made the Israelites stop complaining bread = made hit songs in the 70s, baby The Bread = gives us Everlasting Life
Imagine Jesus sitting with you. He looks you in the eye and tells you:
(hear your name here) ~ my Father 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. (hear your name again) ~ I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me will never hunger, and whoever believes in me will never thirst.
John 6:32-35
Sit in silence with this for a bit. Read it over and over and hear Him saying it to you. Let it flood your mind and heart. How do you feel?
Jesus says:
I am the good shepherd... and I will lay down my life for the sheep. Amen, amen, I say to you, I am the gate for the sheep. My sheep hear my voice; I know them, and they follow me. John 10:11,15 John 10:7 John 10:27
Jesus is our Good Shepherd and He loves us beyond measure. He gives us Eternal Life.
"I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish. No one can take them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one can take them out of the Father’s hand. The Father and I are one." John 10:28-30
Do you feel like a sheep? This week in the Readings, we hear Jesus calls us His sheep. Do sheep eat bread? We, His sheep, eat the Living Bread which is available to us every day.
Daily Bread is different for everyone. It is what we need to survive the day.
That is all we ask of God when we pray the Lord's Prayer:
~ Give us this day our DAILY BREAD ~
But, it isn't how we think and act. We are always looking toward the future. We buy extra, save for later, and worry about tomorrow. That's what the Israelites did. They were freed from slavery but didn't trust God's timing. They got frustrated and ungrateful in the waiting, so God gave them manna from heaven. It was physical food to sustain them, but it also had a spiritual meaning. It gave them a daily assurance that God was with them, loving them, watching over them, and taking care of them. They were told to only take what they needed to be filled each day and not worry about tomorrow. The manna would spoil after one day, so they couldn't save it. They had to trust God would provide each day.
We are called to live the same way.
We begin by asking ourselves: do I have enough for today? enough food to eat? enough gas for my car? enough clothes to wear? If the answer is yes, then celebrate and give Him thanks!
This became my lifeline when I took the leap of faith and left my full-time job to be a full-time writer. I knew the Lord had led me to that decision. He called me to it, but he didn't provide the details. I had no idea what was ahead, how I would be able to pay the bills. So I needed to trust and wait for this new path to come to fruition. Many times, I cowered in fear and worry about the future. How could I make a living at writing without a steady and secure salary? I would have to wait and trust.
I had to work really, really hard at turning my thoughts to the Lord and His promise of Daily Bread. Since He called me to this, He would show me the way just like He did for His disciples. We heard it in the Gospel yesterday. Jesus continued to work with them and guide them after He left the earth. He does the same for us.
"Then the Lord Jesus, after he spoke to them, was taken up into heaven and took his seat at the right hand of God. But they went forth and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked with them and confirmed the word through accompanying signs." Mark 16:19-20
So, every day to curb my fear, I remind myself that I don't need to know all the answers to all my questions. I don't need to know what lies ahead in my future. I only need to be obedient to His will, stay close to Him, seek His guidance, and trust that He is working with me and confirming the word through accompanying signs. The Holy Spirit continues to inspire me through Scripture and there continues to be a place for me to express what is given to me. I have enough for today and I am most thankful. I trust that He will provide for me tomorrow. He is with me in the waiting.