Breaking Bread

In the Bible eating is as important as breathing. There are 302 mentions of the word "bread" in the bible not to mention 533 occurrences of the word "eating" and 341 occurrences of the word "drink." From Adam to Revelation bread and eating are central to the life of the faithful. Jesus, of course, encourages us to eat and drink to remember him. I lay this out because I often wonder how much I miss of God's blessings because I am not focused on the ordinary.  To break bread is to affirm trust and comfort with those with whom we gather. And what a miracle this is in the midst of something so ordinary as bread.

For much of history bread was the meal of the poor. It was a cheap way to put food in the belly. Wheat,
barley, rye, rice, oats, cornmeal, buckwheat, amaranth, farro, millet, sorghum, and spelt are just some of the readily available gains for the poor around the world. One could grow their own grain or trade for with a neighbor. In the morning most homes would wake to the smell of baking bread. Bread was also consumed by the upper classes as well. One could say that on any given day that the King and the peasants ate bread.

When people started to migrate to the big cities bakers became the center of many communities. A good baker would have different kinds of bread available at different prices so that all could eat. For a time in Rome the people received free bread!

So, when we look at the saying "Let us break bread," we are recalling what is most important in our lives and that is relationships, and especially healthy relationships. We have research that proves this point, that people who regularly break bread with others have more stable lives.

It is no wonder that Jesus took the bread and broke it and gave it to his disciples saying, "Take and eat, this is my body given for you." This simple act, that we do every day, is the act of remember all that God has done for us in creation and in the new creation that we have through Jesus. 

It is with all this in mind that Susan and I invite you to join us in breaking bread. We have set up seven dates this Fall to host a meal for six people at a time. When you see the sign up sheets I hope you will make sure to put your name down. We have morning, afternoon and evening times available.

Yet God commanded the skies above, and opened the doors of heaven; God rained down on them manna to eat, and gave them the grain of heaven. People ate of the bread of angels; God sent them food in abundance. (Psalm 78:23-25)