Come Now, You Hungry
Karin Peter, president of seventy
Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.” -John 6:35
Growing up we ate sliced, white, sandwich bread bought from the grocery store. It made decent cinnamon toast in the morning and sandwiches in our lunch boxes. It was not great, but it was not horrible, and we didn’t give it much thought.
But occasionally my mother would bake bread. She would set the large bowl of kneaded dough on top the clothes dryer in the laundry room so the heat and humidity would help the yeast. As the bread baked, the mouthwatering aroma would permeate the whole house. And if we were fortunate enough to be home when the bread came out of the oven, she would let us rub the butter wrapper over the tops of the loaves. Then she would take out the serrated knife and give each of us a thick slice of the freshly baked goodness.
That bread-kneaded, baked, and sliced in my mother’s kitchen-was nothing like the store-bought, everyday bread we usually ate. The bread my mother baked filled our senses and satisfied our appetites. It looked, smelled, and tasted glorious. For a busy, working mother of three, it was a generous gift of time, energy, and love.
I think about that bread when I hear Jesus speak of himself as the bread of life. Not the everyday bread that has little taste or texture. But bread born of effort, sacrifice, and love. Bread that has heft and weight to it. The bread we yearn for.
Like the aroma of baking bread, Jesus fills our senses and captures our full attention as we seek to respond to this amazing, generous gift.
As we discover ways to embody the message and ministry of Jesus in our communities, let us respond with our whole selves. May we live out the fragrant, satisfying, life-sustaining qualities of the Jesus we proclaim and follow, Jesus the bread of life.
Prayer Phrase
“Discern what is the will of God” (Romans 12:2).
Spiritual Practice
Discernment
The heart of discernment is listening for God. God speaks and reveals in many ways-through nature, the voice of a friend, or a deeper knowing in our own souls. How can you create space today to listen for God in your life? What do you hear when you take time to slow down and listen?
Today’s Prayer for Peace
Engage in a daily practice of praying for peace in our world. Click here to read today’s prayer and be part of this practice of peace.
