“Because there is one loaf, we, who are many, are one body, for we all partake of the one loaf. The bread we break is sharing in the body of Christ.”

Can you believe that bread machines were one of the top selling kitchen appliances on Amazon this past month? One of the items my company manufactures is yeast. All of our indicators in recent years showed that bread baking was a lost art. Yeast sales in the past 4 weeks have exceeded what we normally sell in 6 months and even surpassed the volume we sell during the traditional fall baking season. This equates to over 12 million loaves of home baked bread in 4 weeks! We could not possibly have predicted this uptick in sales that might be driven by panic buying, so don’t blame me if you can’t find yeast at your local H-E-B. Perhaps man DOES live by bread alone. 

In chapter 6 of the book of John are two familiar stories about miracles that Jesus performed. The “feeding of five thousand” on the mountainside (one of my favorite stories) and “walking on water” across the lake to meet up with the disciple’s fishing boat. The people on the mountain who had just eaten the miracle meal of fishes and loaves seemed more intent on knowing how Jesus got to the other side of the lake without them seeing Him leave on the boat.

²⁶ Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, you are looking for me, not because you saw the signs I performed but because you ate the loaves and had your fill. ²⁷ Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you.”
John 6:26-27 (NIV)

Jesus called them out for missing the spiritual connection he offered through the miracles because they were too focused on just eating the bread for the sake of filling their stomachs. He had to remind them the story of manna being sent from heaven and not from Moses. In the book of Exodus, chapter 16, God was instructing his people to only gather and eat what they could and not to hoard the manna. They still grumbled just as their ancestors did and many of his disciples except for the twelve left him. He offered them more than what they were capable of or cared to comprehend.

³³ For the bread of God is the bread that comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.”³⁴ “Sir,” they said, “always give us this bread.” ³⁵ Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty. ³⁶ But as I told you, you have seen me and still you do not believe. ³⁷ All those the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away.
John 6:33-37 (NIV)

Hear the good news for those who do come to Jesus. Partaking in Holy Communion transports us to the Upper Room. This simple but powerful symbolism of bread and juice is what connects us to the cross and resurrection of Christ. The “open table” of our Methodist faith invites and only requires of us to come with open heart, soul, and mind to share and receive Christ. Our AUMC focus groups and survey revealed that sharing Holy Communion in the presence of family and fellow Christians embodied an “authentic spiritual connection” like no other. One AUMCer shared, “it was a sacred opportunity to reconcile with God. We do this in remembrance of the sacrifice he made for each of us.”

²⁶ While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take and eat; this is my body.”

²⁷ Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. ²⁸ This is my blood of the  covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.  ²⁹ I tell you; I will not drink from this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.
Matthew 26: 26-29 (NIV)

This authentic spiritual connection was so important for Jesus that he reminded us to recite it in the Lord’s Prayer; “Give us today our daily bread.” Matthew 6:11 (NIV)

As we patiently await when we can return to church, I long for our Holy Communion service as I believe many of you do as well. Will it be the same as before? Will it mean the same as before? Will it mean more than ever? 

We don’t have to wait for Holy Communion to enjoy the bread of life.

A member of one of my small groups shared that despite all that was happening during this pandemic he longed to enjoy a meal with his children. Although hundreds of miles separated he and his wife from their two adult children and their spouses, the three families spent a cherished hour at the virtual dinner table thanks to modern technology. Eating and enjoying the meals they each had prepared, sharing stories, giving thanks for their health, laughing, hearing each other’s concerns, and sharing unconditional love in community of family by “passing the bread,” so to speak. Something tells me this may have been one of the more specials meals this family has ever shared. 

Maybe Jesus is reminding us today just like he did for the folks on that mountainside. Don’t miss out on the miracle of Christ’s open table where we will hunger and thirst no more. “Pass the bread” on to others. Do this in remembrance of Christ. 

Man does not live by bread alone. Man DOES live by the “manna” from heaven!

Peace be with you,

Kenny Shortsleeve, Lay Leader