"sir, give us this bread always." Jesus said, "I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me will never hunger, and whoever believes in me will never thirst."
The longing of the human heart is for security; the human heart wants certainty, wants to grab hold and hold fast, wants to know something or someone will be there and make the way we go filled with a the presence of hope.
"give us this bread always."
How often have we spoke these words or expressed this sentiment of humanity's deep longing?
When couples say "I do" are they not expressing this same sentiment, a desire for security and certainty no matter the mystery of tomorrow? Are they not looking for that faithful love that will see them through? Are they not expressing to each other that they want the bread of love to be always in their midst? Is this not why they get married, so that they may guard and keep the love they have found in each other? Is it not meant to be "always" and forever.
Do we not also do this when we make vows as religious? Are not we desiring that fervor and that security discovered in the call to remain always? Is this not why we wear the habit and join the community? Have we not found that security and certainty that had escaped us in the world?
Do we not also seek this in ordination? When we make our vows and promise obedience to the bishop as priest, have we not found security in the vocation we discerned? The vows and the promises are meant to fortify the security, strengthen our certainty, give us courage for the journey ahead. We wear the black to remind ourselves that true security comes from another who is more lasting and real.
Every commitment, every promise, every vow, every "I do" spoken in this world is meant to be an expression of that security we have found and that security we hold on to as we journey the path before us. Our human heart knows where to find that secure place where certainty abounds in all circumstances.
Strange to think that we must give ourselves completely for security to truly take over. We cannot hold back, we cannot ride the fence. We must let go and dive in, only then is security and certainty a gateway to always and forever.
Is this not the Eucharist? Jesus comes as the bread of life. He comes giving everything. He holds nothing back. He makes a commitment, a promise, a vow, "I will be with you always" and is this not fulfilled in the place where the light is always burning as a reminder of that bread that is with us always. The security and certainty the human heart longs for finds it perfect meeting in the bread of life, the eucharist that is given, the body, blood, soul, and divinity of Jesus, who comes to nourish us, "always."
Though our human attempts are often filled with failure and weakness, the strength of God remains true to himself and the bread remains the bread of life, the bread of certainty, the bread of security.
The Eucharist is the answer, an answering presence to the longing of the human heart for security and certainty, "give us this bread always!" In deed, "always" is made present every time we say "amen."
"Behold, the lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world, happy are those who are called to his supper."
"Lord, I am not worthy but only say the word and Is hall be healed."
quote from The Elegance of the Hedgehog a fiction novel:
"Thinking back on it, this evening, with my heart and my stomach all like jelly, I have finally concuded, maybe that's what life is about: there is a lot of despair, but also the odd moment of beauty, where time is no longer the same. It is as if those strains of music created a sort of interlude in time, something suspended, an elsewhere that had come to us, an always within never...we must search for those moments of always within never. Beauty, in this world."
The Eucharist is the always within the never of our lives.
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