The Loaf-Giver

                                                          The Loaf-Giver

"Our ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written, ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’”Then Jesus said to them, “Very truly, I tell you, it was not Moses who gave you the bread from heaven, but it is my Father who gives you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is that which[a] comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.”  They said to him, “Sir, give us this bread always.” 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 6.31-35

Bread is a prominent part of the Christian narrative, as it is in Judaism and Islam. Jesus breaks bread with the poor community. The Gospel of John gives us several ways to see Jesus as the “Bread of Life”.  Bread, or something akin to it, is a vital staple in every part of the world. 

When the Hebrew Scriptures and the Christian Testament were translated into English in 1611, the result was the King James Version. Many still use this translation today. A fascinating fact, to me at least, is the way that some words and passages got translated. Reading the KJV today highlights the way that the English language has changed over time – and continues to change. 

The word “lord” appears throughout the Bible. It is what was chosen as a translation for the Greek word, “Kyrie”. In my university studies of English language, I learned something really interesting about that word. The translators used the “lord” because the landowners who had governance over the people were called “lord”, sort of. It was the task of that individual to make certain that the people on his land had food to eat.  Remember how I said that English language changes over time? Well, the word “lord” originated in Old English as “hlaf werd”. It’s pronounced “laf werd”. Over time and use those two words melded into one word. If you say it several times at the normal speed one speaks, you will hear how it morphs (changes). 

The two words meant “loaf giver”! It made perfect sense to translate the Greek “kyrie” as “lord” because the One who provides bread for life – is the “hlaf werd”. I think of this when I come to the Table of the “Loaf-giver” for Holy Communion. The bread for us is life. That life is given to us by a God so great, so gracious, and so generous that we can never fully understand! Even more, we are not asked to “pay” the “Loaf-giver” for it, but instead to pass it on to others. In the Epistle of James 2.14-18, we read that faith without works is dead. We are told that we demonstrate our faith by what it is we do. The “Loaf-giver” has shared that we might also share. We are not saved by what we do, we are saved to do what Jesus modeled for us. 

Recently I spoke with a young man who admitted that he struggled with believing as a Christian. He said he had spent his childhood and youth being told repeatedly what it is that Christians don’t do. He wondered aloud what exactly it is that Christians do? It’s an intriguing question and I admit that my heart hurt to think that he, like so many others, had never truly heard the Good News. How would you answer his question? What do you understand that Christians DO, instead of what they DON’T?  The Lord, the “Loaf-giver”, has blessed us in order that we might be a blessing to everyone we encounter. The Bread of Heaven calls us to DO. How would you answer this young man’s question? What is the “Loaf-giver” calling you to share?