Rocks into Bread

“I am the bread of life;
whoever comes to me will never hunger,
and whoever believes in me will never thirst." - John 6:35

This is today's reading, and it is probably one of the most beautiful themes in all of the Gospel messages. It speaks to Jesus' power to nourish us, to sustain us, to bring us to life and to lead us into a new sense of being. Isn't that what Easter is all about? That, even though we thought it was all over, it wasn't? That, even amidst the deepest tomb, lies new life? I know that I talk about this a lot in my entries, but it's because I think it's one of the most important tenants of Christianity, and it's what distinguishes Christians from people of other faiths who do not believe in the Resurrection. Jesus is the bread of life: He is the source of our being. Think about that. He's saying here that without Him...we don't have life. We are dead. What a powerful statement.

I have a rock on my cubicle that's been there since I moved in on August 22nd. It's a small, round stone with a carving of a sun and the phrase, "Rocks into bread." It was given to me as a gift from a priest and mentor at St. Bonaventure University, someone who guided me through my college years and challenged me to become more than I what thought I could be. We had been on a retreat with alumni, sharing our experiences as students of Bonaventure, an identity that thousands of people hold near and dear to their hearts. And this rock, "Rocks into bread" reflects the theme for that retreat: that God can take what does not appear to be living...and make it alive. That God makes all things new. That, no matter what we do or who we are or what our reputations tell ourselves and others, God always wants to begin anew. And God can take something that looks messy and turn it into a beautiful piece of art.

I've kept this rock at my cubicle the entire year because it's something that I need reminding of every day. I am not perfect, and my year as a youth minister has not been ideal at times. But I operate with the confidence that God is with me, guiding me, making the ordinary extraordinary. God has turned rocks into bread. What an incredible thing! I am blessed to be reminded of that so often.

So, during this Easter season (yes, we are still in the Easter season), remember that God wants to renew you. Even if you don't need much renewing, or even if you think that you need so much work that it's impossible to fix. Know that God wants to renew you, and that God has already started that work.

"I am confident in this, that the one who began a good work in you will continue to complete it until the day of Christ Jesus." - Philippians 1:6

Until then, I guess I'll be unfinished. Peace.