From the Vicar
It seems bread isn’t terribly popular in today’s world. An increasing number of people are gluten free or gluten intolerant, and most diets tend to encourage cutting out excess carbohydrate. Paleo pushes the reduction of grain foods, and those following the Keto diets are expected give up most carbs.
But bread is still a staple for many. According to market researchers, IBIS World, the bread making industry in NZ is worth $968m and employs a (very precise) 4,649 people. While our Australian cousins were hoarding toilet paper during lockdown, here in NZ it was the flour and yeast that was quickly snatched from the shelves. The short supply of yeast had a work-around with every second Facebook post saying something about sourdough starters.
In today’s reading from John 6, we hear Jesus claiming to be the bread of life - the one who sustains us. Bread was the staple food for most in Jesus day, and had a long history in the story of the people of God from the unleavened passover bread eaten on the run, to the manna in the desert, to the "bread of the presence” placed weekly on the altar in the Temple to represent the 12 tribes of Israel.
What strikes me most about the metaphor Jesus uses is just how ordinary, and common, and basic, and ’noa’ it is. Jesus is reminding us that he is to be found in the everyday and is a gift for all. The church usually does a pretty good job of trying to hide Jesus’ ordinariness. We’ve taken ‘bread’ and made them into pretty perfectly round and white wafers (aka hosts) and put them into a golden goblet (aka ciborium), and the person that prays over the bread does so wearing fancy clothes (alb, stole, chasuble). All of that is an understandable reaction to the holiness of God and the preciousness of the gift, but it is in tension with the humility of the metaphor.
Jesus is the living bread. The simple, humble, easily-available gift for all. Let us feast on Him.
Highlights from the July Vestry meeting:
Items continue to be sold on Trade Me regularly - thanks to Carolyne for doing this. We remain grateful for the generous financial support of all parishioners. Save the date: Friday 10 December Twilight Christmas Market combined with St Martins Presbyterian Church.
A motion of thanks was passed for all the work our Administrator Emmy does. A policy document file is being compiled.
Please support the upcoming Court Jesters evening & Meals for Six
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