John 6:35,51 – Then Jesus declared, "I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty. I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. This bread is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world." (NIV)

One day as I was sitting in a group having coffee, the talk of the hour circled around homemade bread. Hands literally acted as if making the bread — kneading, folding — dark rye, white, corn bread. One could taste the oven-fresh bread and see the hands that made it. A joyous laughter followed, as if filled with a most enjoyable piece of bread.

Jesus, the Bread of Life, similarly offers us His body of bread, feeding us with pieces of divine nourishment.

Through our faith, there is joy in that bread of life. Just as we mortals find joy in our daily bread and remember the good old homemade bread which we recall while sharing our bread stories, it is beneficial to us to share our faith in the one living bread.

Our hope multiplies in such sharing. Our joy is renewed. There is peace to be found and joy to pass around.

Lent is a time to pursue repentance and to give up many things offered by the world which has us in its grip. Lent is a time to learn discipline, to get rid of all means that do not satisfy.

Softly and tenderly Jesus is calling,
Calling for you and for me:
Patiently Jesus is waiting and watching,
Watching for you and for me!
"Come home! come home!
You who are weary, come home!"
Earnestly, tenderly, Jesus is calling —
Calling, O sinner, "Come home!"
William J. Thompson

Prayer: God of living bread! Your gracious work creates us to be filled with heavenly food, hungering for more for life divine. We are bidden to Your table for the forgiveness of our sins. Sinners are coming home, Lord! Amen.

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About the author:

Kirsti Sipila <kirstiksipila@hotmail.com>
Brantford, Ontario, Canada
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