Edgewood United Church

United Church of Christ

August 13, 2006  Edgewood United Church UCC Rev. Karen E. Gale

Wild Yeast
John 6:35, 41-51

“Jesus said to them, ‘I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty. Then the Jews began to complain about him because he said, ‘I am the bread that came down from heaven.’ They were saying, ‘Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How can he now say, “I have come down from heaven”?’”

I want to stop for a moment and deal with this comment about “the Jews.” Throughout the gospel of John and quite a bit in Matthew as well there are disparaging comments made about “the Jews.” And contained within the history of our faith is the ugly truth of pogroms, burnings and synagogue destructions carried out in name of Christ against “the Jews.” Throughout Europe in the Middle Ages, during the Inquisition and the Reformation, and here in this country even today, discrimination and Anti-Semitism is carried out against the Jews based on the words of our scriptures.

Now this does not really make sense. Jesus himself is a Jew. He was born into the Jewish faith and he died a Jew. The controversy in this morning’s passage concerns questions of “who is this native son claiming divine heritage?” This was Jesus’ own tradition he is challenging.

Early Christians were considered Jews. It is not until beginning of second century that conflict arises and Christians are removed from Jewish faith. It was a time of separation and distinction, and out of that environment the book of John was written. But the words used in the text continue to be used as anti-Semitic rhetoric today and license for atrocities and discrimination in Jesus’ name.

So, understanding that, we see that Jesus is actually wrestling with those who do not believe his message or his being the envoy of God. In fact, in trying to speak to his audience, Jesus uses a familiar metaphor, a Biblical metaphor coming out of the Hebrew Scriptures, our Old Testament, to speak to the people.

“I am the bread of life. Your ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died. This is the bread that comes down from heaven, so that one may eat of it and not die. I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats of this bread will live for ever; and the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh.’”

Jesus refers back to manna provided in wilderness. Recall that when Moses was leading the Israelites in their desert wanderings the food they ate was manna, a kind of bread-snow that fell from heaven every day. “Like the manna that fed the Israelites in the wilderness, Jesus identified himself with this ancient tradition as the "bread from heaven." In doing so, he at once acknowledged the significance of this divine gift of bread and reinterpreted its meaning.” (John Sherman)

Bread held an important ritual meaning to Jews.  “The sacrificial system included an offering of cereal used in the making of bread. Tabernacle and temple both required a permanent display of bread representing the presence of Yahweh (Exod. 25:30; 1 Chron. 28:16). The Passover festival of unleavened bread formed the central religious rite in remembrance of the Exodus.” (John Sherman)

I am bread of life, says Jesus.

The Gospel of John is full of “I am” statements:  I am the bread of life; I am the light; I am the gate; I am the good shepherd; I am the resurrection and the life; I am the way, truth, life; I am the true vine.

Some of these images aren’t so close to our experiences—not too many of us are shepherds or vineyard keepers. But we all know bread. (Though I suppose the Atkins diet might have done away with this metaphor as well.) We know bread through communion where we lift up the loaf as the bread of life, Jesus’ presence in our midst as we remember the Last Supper.

But we also know bread in our everyday lives. Bread is a staple in this country, in our culture. It is interesting that in other cultures, in parts of Asia for instance, this section of scripture translates Jesus’ words as “I am the rice of life.”  Truly what is meant is that Jesus is the very essence of our being, the sustenance, the essential of life.

So I ask you, if Jesus is the bread of life, what kind of bread is he?

If Jesus were bread what would he be? Wonder bread…hot dog buns? I imagine instead that Jesus would be the crunchy, healthy, whole grain, warm from oven, no preservatives, probably organic bread that truly is filled with life or at least the vitamins and minerals needed for life.

This kind of bread is expensive; it takes time to make. The ingredients are gathered with care and the process takes awhile. It is indeed “the bread of life.”

So, if we are charged to serve and minister in Jesus’ name, what kind of bread are we as a community of faith, as a church?  What kind of bread do we want to be?

Wonder bread? Light, fluffy, no hard edges, low fiber, easy eating…

Edgewood is not Wonder Bread though sadly some churches are—a light, fluffy message and it’s gone.

I believe we are reaching to being this rich, whole grain, organic, life-giving bread. And it is expensive.
• to strengthen our mission program,
• to truly serve our youth and children,
• to invite others in this community to find us and find some life giving bread of Christ for their own lives,
• to advocate for justice in our ballot choices, in our legislature in our decisions as a country,
• to reach for the goals of our strategic plan—how we feel God is calling us forward to serve and to be in this community—
that takes the ingredients of faith and work and money and time.

We are working to being this kind of bread; but breadmaking is an organic, dynamic process. It doesn’t stand still; we are always working on a new loaf. Right now calling a second pastor is part of that work of making more bread. Our stewardship to make this happen is part of the work of making new loaves.

It is true that at church we can see glimpses of God through the bread. Jesus says in today’s scripture that  no one has seen God, or “the Father” as he calls God. This may seem somewhat exclusive to us in the 21st century. But to Jesus’ listeners, naming God in such an intimate, familiar, familial way that would have been scandalous, especially to religious leaders. “No one has seen the Father but me.”

It is true that we don’t see God—not in any pure form. But we do see God in life and teaching of Jesus. We see God in this gathered community of faith. We see God in the bread held up and broken and shared in communion. We see God in the celebration of people’s lives when they die. We see God in worship.

This past week some 60 Edgewood folks participated in Edgewood camp, a time of spiritual renewal, thanksgiving, singing, joyful fun and the making of the bread of community.

On Sunday evening we had the traditional worship service on the beach of Lake Michigan. I was the first to arrive with my box containing the baskets for communion bread and the chalice for the juice, a prayer book, the Happenings and my stole. I stood there watching the waves and the soaring gulls.

But it was not until the rest of the group arrived, until we had set the communion table, until a choir stood upon the sand and praised God, until we sang and retold the creation story, that the bread, an ordinary loaf, became the bread of life, part of the mystery and ritual and power of a community of faith coming together and seeking the steps of Jesus.

Jesus said I am the bread of life. The bread of LIFE in all its deepest sense. “No one in our time has so caught the meaning of this two-dimensional love than Mother Teresa of Calcutta. She and her Sisters of Charity rummaged around the streets of Calcutta seeking the poor who were left to die on the sidewalks and in the alleyways of the city. These dying persons then were brought to a mission where they were bathed and cared for. In Mother Teresa's words, "Every person at least one time before they die needs to know that he or she is loved." Jesus is the bread of life because he came to show the world of human beings that we are loved-loved by God and loved by God's people who, as the church, live to extend that love to others.” (textweek.com)

I was also struck by part of the Ephesians reading this morning which said, “Thieves must give up stealing, rather let them labor and work honestly with their own hands, so as to have something to share with the needy.” (Eph 4:26) The passage did not say theieves must give up stealing because stealing is wrong. Or thieves must give up stealing so they can pull their own weight. No, it says that thieves should give up stealing so that they can participate in giving to the needy, so that they have something to share, so they can be incorporated in what it means to be the bread of life for others.

When we think about our prison system in this country, what are our goals? To punish “thieves” (as a stand in for all imprisoned people) because what they did was wrong. To make them work so they can pull their own weight in society. Or to help lead them to a life giving path, a way for them to participate in being the bread of life, to connect them to giving to others in need. To be a part of the bread of life.

Perhaps my favorite kind of bread is sourdough bread, especially the kind made in San Francisco. I love the tangy sour flavor and the usually very crunchy exterior. Sourdough bread is different depending on where it is made. I recently learned why.

To make sourdough one has to make starter, just like I did for the kids this morning. And when all the elements for making bread are present, then one leaves it out and waits. And over the next days the starter comes to life and grows until it is alive and one must feed and care for it.

It is the wild yeast that is in our air that comes to land on it and make this happen. Wild yeast. That means that as we sit here wild yeast is floating all around us. In this sanctuary, in our homes, outside. Wild yeast. Invisible yet powerful enough to rise a loaf of bread when given the right environment.

Depending on where you live, the yeast is different. It tastes different. Then the bread will taste different. A church is just the same. We have the ingredients—the people, the resources, the money, the time, the energy. All of this is contained within us gathered in this place. And then, wild yeast, the movement of the Spirit comes into our midst leading us to be prophetic, to care for one another in times of need, to teach our children a new way, to reach out beyond ourselves and risk, to speak truth to power.

Then suddenly, or usually gradually, we become the bread of life in this place. The bread of life that is Edgewood church, the bread of life for people in the Lansing community and in Nicaragua and in Malawi and beyond. A distinctive taste that is Edgewood.

I recently read a progressive church response to the powerful fundamentalist Christian movement in this country. It read, “How can we become the most dangerous church in America? We can stand up in the public square and consistently and clearly voice our commitment to the inherent worth and dignity of every person and our commitment to a world community with peace, justice, and liberty for all. We can take action inspired by these commitments. We can offer visitors to our congregations a liberal religious home, a sanctuary from the uncertainty and isolation that may have brought them to our doors, a community that will help them develop spiritually and grow emotionally—and as we do, they will stay with us...” (Unitarian Universalist)

Being the bread of life.  And inviting others to find a way to ease their hunger as well.

D. T. Niles, leader of the Church of South India a half century ago, defined evangelism in light of Jesus' claim to be the bread of life. "Evangelism," he explained, "is one hungry person telling another hungry person where to find bread." Indeed, that is the mission of the church, to tell the world where love is to be found -as well as peace, joy, hope, and all of the fruits of the Spirit. Especially in these troubled times, this is indeed the bread of life. (textweek.com)

I’ll close with a story. Once upon a time, a pilgrim set out on the long journey in search of peace, joy and love. The pilgrim walked for many weary miles and time passed.

Gradually, the young lively steps became slower and more labored. The pilgrim’s journey passed through landscapes that were not always happy ones. Through war. Through sickness. Through quarrels and rejections and separations. A land where it seemed the more people possessed, the more warlike they became. The more they had to defend, the more they needed to attack each other. Longing for peace, they prepared for war. Longing for love, they surrounded themselves with walls of distrust and barriers of fear. Longing for life, they were walking deeper into death.

But one morning, the pilgrim came to a little cottage at the wayside. Something about it attracted him as it was lit up from the inside and have an air of timelessness. Inside the cottage was a shop and behind the counter stood a shopkeeper.

What would you like asked the shopkeeper in a kindly voice.
What do you stock here asked the pilgrim.
Oh we have all the things here that you most long for replied the shopkeeper. Just tell me what you desire. The pilgrim hardly knew where to begin. So many desires came rushing to mind.

I want peace—in my own family, in my native land and in the whole world
I want to make something good of my life.
I want those who are sick to be well again and those who are lonely to have friends.
I wan those who are hungry to have enough to eat
I want every child to have a chance to be educated
 I want everyone to live in freedom
I want this world to be a kingdom of love.
There was a pause, while the pilgrim reviewed this shopping list. Gently, the shopkeeper said to him, I’m sorry. I should have explained. We don’t supply the fruits here. We only supply the seeds. (Margaret Silf, 100 Wisdom Stories)

When we come here we find the seeds—hope from the gospel, support from one another, a vision of how life can be, a connection to the divine.

And together, with the help of wild yeast—the Spirit in this church-unseen yet powerful—we grow and ferment and become the fruit—the bread of life in this place. The bread of life for those who hunger, for those who grieve, for those who suffer, for those who are oppressed.

Thanks be to God for the gifts abundantly present in our lives.
Thanks be to God for the givers who give to the vision of this community of faith and our task of making bread.
Thanks be to God for the bread of life.
And for the invitation to always have a slice. Amen.