John 6: 47-59 (NRSVA)

47 Very truly, I tell you, whoever believes has eternal life. 48 I am the bread of life. 49 Your ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died. 50 This is the bread that comes down from heaven, so that one may eat of it and not die. 51 I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats of this bread will live for ever; and the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh.’

52 The Jews then disputed among themselves, saying, ‘How can this man give us his flesh to eat?’ 53 So Jesus said to them, ‘Very truly, I tell you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. 54 Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood have eternal life, and I will raise them up on the last day; 55 for my flesh is true food and my blood is true drink. 56 Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood abide in me, and I in them. 57 Just as the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so whoever eats me will live because of me. 58 This is the bread that came down from heaven, not like that which your ancestors ate, and they died. But the one who eats this bread will live for ever.’ 59 He said these things while he was teaching in the synagogue at Capernaum.

Baguette, sourdough, naan, bagels, pita, rye... there’s something so comforting about the variety of bread we eat. Each one brings its own unique texture, flavour, and a little warmth to the table. 

When Jesus spoke about bread, he was thinking about something a lot more essential than the selection at the baker’s. He was offering a different kind of sustenance altogether.

When Jesus talks about eating his flesh and drinking his blood, it sounds a bit shocking. But, he’s really pointing to his approaching sacrifice on the cross, where his body will be broken and his blood will be shed. This is the true nourishment he’s offering — something far beyond the comfort of a freshly baked loaf. His sacrifice is the source of life, the very thing that can sustain us spiritually and give us eternal life.

So, when we share in Communion, the Eucharist, it’s a deep, life-giving connection with Jesus himself, participating in the reality of his death and resurrection. 

Jesus is offering himself as the true bread of life, the sustenance that never spoils. The promise of eternal life is not something we can achieve with a good meal or even the best bread on the table. It is only found in Jesus who offers us a relationship that feeds us forever. 

That’s something to savour!

Prayer:

Jesus, thank you for being the Bread that gives us Life. 

Thank you for your sacrifice and the love that never runs out. 

Help us remember that you’re the true food we need, and to live fully in You.

Amen

What can I do? Pray for Bread For Life International (www.breadforlife.org), that it continues its work in Cameroon to address the issues of spiritual and physical hunger across West-Central Africa.

Written by

Christine Colliar