Then Jesus took the loaves, and when he had given thanks, he distributed them to those who were seated; so also the fish, as much as they wanted.” vs. 11
John 6:10-21
When we read the feeding stories in the gospels we can’t miss the connections that writers are making with Holy Communion. In each account Jesus takes the loaves in his hands, offers a prayer of blessing, and then distributes them to the people. And they were satisfied! It’s the satisfaction that catches our eye. This bread was more than empty calories–it’s exactly like the bread distributed in the Eucharist. Always there is thanksgiving, but there’s also food for the soul! Oh how we’ve missed this ritual during the time of pandemic! Of course we can watch via Zoom and eat a morsel of bread from our pantry, or maybe a sanitized wafer packaged with a wine-like drink, but to have the bread broken and placed in our hands–wow, what a gift! We eat–and are satisfied! All the blessings of the Holy Meal flow into our bodies and we feel our hearts strangely warmed by the Real Presence of the Christ. No wonder Holy Communion is the central aspect of worship for so many! No wonder we’ve missed it so much! As we eat and drink we re-member Jesus and find the healing we crave for our failures and foibles. Good sermons and slick videos are a dime a dozen in these times, but nothing beats the eating and drinking of a shared Communion.
Thought for the Day: What brings me satisfaction in worship?
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