March 7: I Am the Bread of Life
♫ Music:
Day 14 - Tuesday, March 7
Title: I AM THE BREAD OF LIFE
Scripture: John 6:26–71
“Believe me,” replied Jesus, “you are looking for me now not because you saw my signs but because you ate that food and had all you wanted. You should not work for the food which does not last but for the food which lasts on into eternal life. This is the food the Son of Man will give you, and he is the one who bears the stamp of God the Father.”
This made them ask him, “What must we do to carry out the work of God?”
“The work of God for you,” replied Jesus, “is to believe in the one whom he has sent to you.”
Then they asked him, “Then what sign can you give us that will make us believe in you? What work are you doing? Our forefathers ate manna in the desert just as the scripture says, ‘He gave them bread out of Heaven to eat.’”
To which Jesus replied, “Yes, but what matters is not that Moses gave you bread from Heaven, but that my Father is giving you the true bread from Heaven. For the bread of God which comes down from Heaven gives life to the world.”
This made them say to him, “Lord, please give us this bread, always!”
Then Jesus said to them, “I myself am the bread of life. The man who comes to me will never be hungry and the man who believes in me will never again be thirsty. Yet I have told you that you have seen me and do not believe. Everything that my Father gives me will come to me and I will never refuse anyone who comes to me. For I have come down from Heaven, not to do what I want, but to do the will of him who sent me. The will of him who sent me is that I should not lose anything of what he has given me, but should raise it up when the last day comes. And this is the will of the one who sent me, that everyone who sees the Son and trusts in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up when the last day comes.”
At this, the Jews began grumbling at him because he said, “I am the bread which came down from Heaven”, remarking “Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose parents we know? How can he say that ‘I have come down from Heaven’?”
So Jesus answered them, “Do not grumble among yourselves. Nobody comes to me unless he is drawn to me by the Father who sent me, and I will raise him up when the last day comes. In the prophets it is written—‘And they shall all be taught by God,’ and this means that everybody who has heard the Father’s voice and learned from him will come to me. Not that anyone has ever seen the Father except the one who comes from God—he has seen the Father. I assure you that the man who trusts in him has eternal life already. I myself am the bread of life. Your forefathers ate manna in the desert, and they died. This is bread that comes down from Heaven, so that a man may eat it and not die. I myself am the living bread which came down from Heaven, and if anyone eats this bread he will live forever. The bread which I will give is my body and I shall give it for the life of the world.”
This led to a fierce argument among the Jews, some of them saying, “How can this man give us his body to eat?”
So Jesus said to them, “Unless you do eat the body of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you are not really living at all. The man who eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life and I will raise him up when the last day comes. For my body is real food and my blood is real drink. The man who eats my body and drinks my blood shares my life and I share his. Just as the living Father sent me and I am alive because of the Father, so the man who lives on me will live because of me. This is the bread which came down from Heaven! It is not like the manna which your forefathers used to eat, and died. The man who eats this bread will live for ever.”
Jesus said all these things while teaching in the synagogue at Capernaum. Many of his disciples heard him say these things, and commented, “This is hard teaching indeed; who could accept that?”
Then Jesus, knowing intuitively that his disciples were complaining about what he had just said, went on, “Is this too much for you? Then what would happen if you were to see the Son of Man going up to the place where he was before? It is the Spirit which gives life. The flesh will not help you. The things which I have told you are spiritual and are life. But some of you will not believe me.”
For Jesus knew from the beginning which of his followers did not trust him and who was the man who would betray him. Then he added, “This is why I said to you, ‘No one can come to me unless my Father puts it into his heart to come.’”
As a consequence of this, many of his disciples withdrew and no longer followed him. So Jesus said to the twelve, “And are you too wanting to go away?”
“Lord,” answered Simon Peter, “who else should we go to? Your words have the ring of eternal life! And we believe and are convinced that you are the holy one of God.”
Jesus replied, “Did I not choose you twelve—and one of you has the devil in his heart?”
He was speaking of Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, one of the twelve, who was planning to betray him.
Poetry & Poet:
from Out of this World
by Seamus Heaney
In memory of Czeslaw Milosz
- ‘Like everybody else…’
‘Like everybody else, I bowed my head
During the consecration of the bread and the wine,
Lifted my eyes to the raised host and raised chalice,
Believed (whatever it means) that a change occurred.
I went to the altar rails and received the mystery
on my tongue, returned to my place, shut my eyes fast,
Made
an act of thanksgiving, opened my eyes and felt
time starting up again.
There was never a scene
when I had it out with myself or with another.
The loss occurred off-stage. And yet I cannot
disavow words like “thanksgiving” or “host”
or “communion bread.” They have an undying
tremor and draw, like well water far down.’
I AM THE BREAD OF LIFE
Life is short. Life is just vapor, as the book of Ecclesiastes rightly points out. We work hard to receive recognition, achieve our goals, or raise our children, but when we look back, we realize time went faster than we thought, and the work is never completely done. Sometimes, the days are long in parenting and life, but the years are short. As the poignant line in John Lennon’s song “Beautiful Boy” clearly describes our lives, “life is what happens to you when you are busy making other plans.”
Life is tough. The COVID-19 global pandemic reminded the whole world that we don’t have control of our lives and circumstances. We lost jobs, relationships, and security in a few months. We must adapt to a new world with constant transformation and futile structures to sustain rapid change. In addition to these external circumstances, many faith leaders have failed unexpectedly. Leaders who were supposed to serve others have abused them. Power, not servanthood, became their motivation. There is an evident lack of genuine and moral leadership worldwide.
Who else should we go to? was the question that Peter asked Jesus when things started to become difficult, and many of Jesus' followers decided to leave him. This is the same question we all ask when we realize that following Christ requires a more significant sacrifice than expected. We must ask ourselves this question when some of Jesus' followers depart from him and behave contrary to the master.
Life is short and tough, but Jesus is faithful, and the life he gives is eternal. Regardless of how much we work, there is always something else to do. Regardless of how much we eat, we will be hungry again. There is never enough time, enough security, or enough bread to satisfy our desires completely. However, Jesus is the bread of life and the only genuine reassurance in our lives. With him at the center of our lives, we can labor with an eternal perspective.
The good news of our faith in Jesus is that what he provides us lasts on into eternal life. The circumstances in our lives may change, but Jesus is always faithful, always near, and always with us. As followers of Christ, we are “beggars telling other beggars where we found bread.” But, the real bread, the eternal one.
Prayer:
When we look into our circumstances, we may find despair. But when we look into you, our heavenly Father, we find security and peace. Thank you, Jesus, for the eternal bread of life. May we live for you in the power and sustenance of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Dr. Octavio Javier Esqueda
Professor of Christian Higher Education
Director, Ph.D. and Ed.D. Programs in Educational Studies
Talbot School of Theology
Biola University
For more information about the artwork, music, and poetry selected for this day, we have provided resources under the “About” tab located next to the “Devotional” tab
About the Translation of the Bible for the 2023 Lent Project:
J.B. Phillips New Testament Translation of the Bible
J.B. Phillips (1906-1982) was well-known within the Church of England for his commitment to making the message of truth relevant to today's world. Phillips' translation of the New Testament brings home the full force of the original message. The New Testament in Modern English was originally written for the benefit of Phillips' youth group; it was later published more widely in response to popular demand. The language is up-to-date and forceful, involving the reader in the dramatic events and powerful teaching of the New Testament. It brings home the message of Good News as it was first heard two thousand years ago.
https://www.biblegateway.com/
About the Artwork:
Bread Line
Lynn Aldrich
1991
Thirty-five-foot installation of freshly baked and sliced-up loaves
Bread Line is a thirty-five-foot installation of freshly baked loaves, sliced up and arranged on the gallery floor in a straight line. The work requires the gallery visitors to walk around or to step over the line while, at the same time, the smell of freshly baked bread overwhelms their senses. The work’s title evokes both a literal line of people waiting for free or subsidized food and the condition of extreme economic hardship that makes such lines necessary. On one level, this installation continues the advocacy of post–World War II artists such as photographer Dorothea Lange (1895–1965), who used images to highlight poverty and to bring attention to homelessness in America. To live physically, we need a staple food like bread, but to live spiritually and eternally, we need to embrace Jesus, who is the bread of life. “I myself am the living bread which came down from Heaven, and if anyone eats this bread he will live forever.”(John 6:51).
(Adapted from a commentary entitled Abundance and Lack by Sara Schumacher,
https://thevcs.org/remember-do-not-forget/abundance-and-lack.)
About the Artist:
Lynn Aldrich (b. 1944) is a Los Angeles artist who employs meticulous craftsmanship to transform common consumer materials into artworks that reflect what she views as the “excess, spectacle and artificiality” of Los Angeles culture. Often filled with humor and playfulness, many pieces have an undeniable subtext of ecological concern, accompanied by a spiritual longing. Her sculptures usually mimic phenomena in nature through artificial means; water and waves, flora and fauna, skies and galaxies are all rendered in plastic, vinyl, fake fur, or foam. This visual and conceptual tension between the natural and synthetic reminds us of the precarious condition of the human-made world and our own temporality. Aldrich received a B.A. in English literature from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill; a B.A. in Fine Art from California State University, Northridge; and an M.F.A. from Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, California. Aldrich has exhibited widely and internationally. She received the J. Paul Getty Individual Artist Fellowship (2000), a United States Artists Project Award (2013), and a John Simon Guggenheim Fellowship (2014). Her work is included in the collection of the Los Angeles County Museum of Art; Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles; Neiman Marcus, Inc., Dallas, TX; Neuberger Berman, Inc., New York, NY; and the New York Public Library.
https://www.edwardcella.com/artist/Lynn_Aldrich/biography/
http://www.denkgallery.com/artists/lynn-aldrich
https://lynnaldrich.com/home.html
About the Music: “I Am the Bread of Life” from the album Catholic Classics, Volume 11
Lyrics:
I am the bread of life
You who come to me shall not hunger
You who believes in me shall not thirst
No one can come to me
Unless the father beckons
And I will raise you up
And I will raise you up
And I will raise you up
On the last day.
The bread that I will give
Is my flesh for the life of the world
And if you eat of this bread
You shall live forever
You shall live forever
And I will raise you up
And I will raise you up
And I will raise you up
On the last day.
Unless you eat
Of the flesh of the Son of Man
And drink of his blood,
And drink of his blood,
You shall not have life within you.
And I will raise you up
And I will raise you up
And I will raise you up
On the last day.
And I will raise you up
And I will raise you up
And I will raise you up
On the last day.
I Am the Bread of Life
You who come to Me shall not hunger
And who Believe in Me shall not thirst
No one can come to Me unless the Father Beckons
And I Will Raise You Up
And I Will Raise You Up
And I Will Raise You Up on the Last Day
The Bread that I Will Give
Is My Flesh of the Life of the Lord
And if you Eat of this Bread
You Shall Live Forever
You Shall Live Forever
And I Will Raise You Up
And I Will Raise You Up
And I Will Raise You Up on the Last Day
Unless You Eat of the Flesh of the Son of Man
And Drink of His Blood
You Shall not Have Life Within You
You Shall not Have Life Within You
And I will Raise You Up
And I will Raise You Up
And I will Raise You Up on the Last Day
I am the Resurrection I am Life
If You Believe in Me
Before You Die
You Shall Live
You Shall Live Forever
And I Will Raise You Up
And I Will Raise You Up
And I Will Raise You Up on the Last Day
About the Composer:
Born in Lansing, Michigan, Sister Suzanne Toolan, RSM, moved to Hollywood at seventeen, before she became a professed Sister of Mercy. She earned a M.A. in humanities and then began her teaching career while also directing choirs for high schools, colleges, parishes, and seminaries. She continued her music studies, which included composition work at Michigan State University, liturgical study at the University of Notre Dame, and choral work with Robert Shaw at San Diego State University. She received a second master’s degree from San Francisco State. Sister Suzanne attributes the popularity of “I Am the Bread of Life,” which has been translated into twenty languages, to its message of resurrection. On her eightieth birthday, she released her autobiography, I Am the Bread of Life, which includes the story behind her beloved hymn. Sister Suzanne is the resident liturgist and directs Taizé prayer at Mercy Center, a ministry of the Sisters of Mercy in Burlingame, California.
https://www.ocp.org/en-us/artists/465/suzanne-toolan-rsm
About the Performers: The Cathedral Singers and Richard Proulx
The Cathedral Singers is an independent ensemble of professional vocalists resident in the Chicago area. These singers participate in a wide range of musical activity, from early music performance to jazz and musical theater. Founded in 1991 primarily as a recording ensemble, the Cathedral Singers have produced over twenty compact disc recordings under the direction of conductor and composer Richard Proulx. These recordings include the Ars Antiqua Choralis Series; Proulx Conducts Proulx, a collection of Joseph Gelineau's psalm settings; and several collections of music from the Iona Community, among others. Two selections from the Singers' recording Sublime Chant were featured on a 1996 episode of the NBC television drama ER, and the entire chant recording is included in a recent video, Mount Shasta: Meeting of Heaven and Earth. The ensemble has appeared with the Metropolis Symphony Orchestra, and has presented concerts in Saint Louis, Milwaukee, Cincinnati, Saint Paul, Indianapolis, Pittsburgh, Cleveland, and Chicago.
https://www.giamusic.com/bios/cathedral_singers.cfm
Richard Proulx (1937–2010) was an American composer and editor of church music, including anthems, service music, hymn concertados, organ music, and music for handbell choir. He served as a consultant on several important hymnals, including The Hymnal 1982 of the Episcopal Church (United States), the United Methodist Hymnal, and the Roman Catholic Hymnals Worship II (1975) and Worship III (1986). He had a long association with Holy Name Cathedral in Chicago, Illinois, and made several recordings with The Cathedral Singers, which he founded in 1991. His anthem “We Adore You, O Christ” received the Raabe Prize for Excellence in Sacred Composition.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Proulx
About the Poetry and Poet:
Seamus Heaney (1939–2013) was an Irish poet, playwright, and translator who received the 1995 Nobel Prize in Literature. Among his best-known works is Death of a Naturalist (1966), his first major published volume. Heaney is still recognized as one of the principal contributors to poetry in Ireland during his lifetime. He became a lecturer at St. Joseph's College in Belfast in the early 1960s, after he attended Queen's University and began to publish poetry. He lived part-time in the United States from 1981 to 2006. Heaney was a professor at Harvard University from 1981 to 1997, and was its Poet in Residence from 1988 to 2006. From 1989 to 1994, he was also the Professor of Poetry at Oxford University.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seamus_Heaney
https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poets/seamus-heaney
About Devotion Author:
Dr. Octavio Javier Esqueda
Professor of Christian Higher Education
Director, Ph.D. and Ed.D. Programs in Educational Studies
Talbot School of Theology
Biola University
Dr. Octavio Javier Esqueda is a professor of Christian higher education in the doctoral programs at Talbot School of Theology at Biola University. He was born and raised in Guadalajara, México, where he graduated with honors with a Licenciatura in Latin American Literature from the University of Guadalajara, as well as two additional diplomas, one in religion and society, and the second in journalism. He graduated with honors from Dallas Theological Seminary with an M.A. in Christian Education and completed his Ph.D. in higher education at the University of North Texas. Before coming to Biola University, he taught at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas. He and his wife, Angélica, have two children, Darío and Salma. Dr. Esqueda has several publications on theological education, Christian higher education, and literature. Teaching is his passion and he has had the opportunity to teach in several countries on different academic levels. He is an avid soccer fan.