Tuesday, March 31, 2020  

Today’s Hymn
Break thou the bread of life, dear Lord, to me,
as thou didst break the loaves beside the sea.
Beyond the sacred page I seek thee, Lord.
My spirit pants for thee, O living Word!

Bless thou the truth, dear Lord, now unto me,
as thou didst bless the bread by Galilee.
Then shall all bondage cease, all fetters fall.
And I shall find my peace, my all in all.

“Break Thou the Bread of Life” by Mary Ann Lathbury
Hymn 460, Glory to God: The Presbyterian Hymnal

Reflection
We come to God broken. Maybe not the first time some of us are brought to God, dressed in white baptismal clothes. But by the time we are old enough to ask to be baptized or to confirm our baptisms, we know we are broken. Someone has told us that we are nothing, and we think they are probably right. We have dark thoughts. We are filled with doubt. It’s the only thing we are filled with, because we are very hungry.

Jesus fed the hungry. He fed the literally hungry, taking two fish and breaking five loaves to feed the multitude beside the sea. But Jesus also let his body be broken to bring truth and salvation and life to our world. We hunger for Christ’s gifts, and they start in brokenness.

That’s why I like a casual communion service, on a beach if possible. In every communion, the pastor says the words, “This is my body, broken for you.” I like it best when I take the bread from the basket, broken apart.

That is the bread that is blessed for those of us who are broken. That is the moment when words become the Word, and our fetters fall. That’s when we find our peace, our all in all.

Prayer
Creator God, thank you for making me hungry to know you. Thank you for the sacrifice you made for me. Thank you for making me want to share my love for you with others. Thank you for my peace. Bread of heaven, bread of heaven, feed me ‘til I want no more. Feed me ‘til I want no more. Amen.

Written by Gretchen Wahl, Member of Fourth Presbyterian Church

Reflection and Prayer © Fourth Presbyterian Church

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