Dear AGAC friends,
This year, which is year B of the liturgical cycle,
we have been looking at Mark’s Gospel most Sundays. As you know, Mark’s Gospel is
significantly shorter than Matthew’s and Luke’s. It goes at breakneck speed – that the word
“immediately” appears 42 times in this short book!
Largely for this reason, it is augmented with
passages from John for five weeks (from 17th to 21st
Ordinary time). During this time, the Discourse on the Bread of Life
from John 6 is used as the Sunday gospel. For a month or so we reflect on what
it might mean if Jesus is “the bread of life.” Bread is a staple food which
sustains life, but the ‘bread of life‘ points to something more
than physical existence. It may be worth reflecting that bread is not a staple
food in all parts of the world, so this phrase is often contextualised.
In my Japanese context, it may be more appropriate to
say “the rice of life.” In the Māori translations of scripture, taro
has thus been given the literal meaning of “bread”, as well as being
used in contexts where “bread” is employed in a metaphorical or
symbolic sense.
These translations point to an understanding of this
phrase as meaning that Jesus is that which is essential to sustain life in all
its fulness. What does it mean for Jesus to be the bread, rice, taro (or
whatever essential to you) of life? I am inviting you to explore this
important topic together.
P. S. On this Sunday, I will take an annual leave as we want to celebrate our son, Yohane’s 16th Birthday. I am deeply grateful that Les will take services in both St. Michael’s and Holy Cross.
Trusting in his care,
Yukiko
