BREAD

 

Do you like bread? I love bread. There are so many different kinds of bread: white, wheat, rye, pumpernickel, sour dough. There are many ways bread can be formed: sliced sandwich bread, dinner rolls, hoagies, sticks, and so on. Pizza is a form of bread. So are tacos. That’s not even counting pastries and donuts.

I mention bread today because over these weeks, we are hearing from the Gospel of John, Jesus speak about himself as the Bread of Life. Now, there are many healthy benefits to eating bread, but none can compare with the Bread of Life, Jesus’ Body.

As Lutherans, we believe that Jesus’ Body is truly present in the bread we receive at communion. He’s present in, with and under the bread. Some people do not believe that. Some believe that the bread is no longer bread, but becomes Christ’s flesh entirely. Others believe that because Jesus is sitting at His Father’s right hand in heaven, he cannot be in the bread.

To that, all I can say is, we are right, and they are wrong. We believe that Jesus is present in the bread and wine and offers us strength and comfort.

With that, let us pray. Heavenly Father, from whom all fatherhood in heaven and earth is named: Bless these and all children, and give their parents the spirit of wisdom and love, so that the homes in which they grow up may be to them an image of Your Kingdom, and the care of their parents a likeness of Your love. We pray in the Name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen.