Clinging to the Bread of Life

Homily for Wednesday in the Third Week of Easter

Not surprisingly, in the weeks following the end of World War II, the children who had been displaced, dislocated, or orphaned found it difficult to fall asleep at night. This was especially true of the Jewish children who had experienced the trauma of the internment camps of Nazi Germany. Anxiety kept them from falling asleep; and when sleep did come, they experienced terrible nightmares. The adults who had volunteered to foster or adopt these children once it was determined that their parents had perished during the war tried to find a way to help these children fall asleep and stay asleep throughout the night. After trying several different remedies, someone found that if after the children were fed their dinner they were given a slice of bread to hold in their hand, they would drift off to sleep clutching the piece of bread. As the great author Annie Lamont writes in telling this story, “Holding the bread reminded them and connected them to the great truth — that morning would come, that there were grown-ups who cared and were watching over them, that there would be more food when they awoke.”

This could be a lesson that we take away from this morning’s Gospel passage. There is much going on in our world that causes an uneasiness, anxiety, and even some depression. It is perfectly understandable that one would feel this way especially now that we are witnessing another war in Europe and have come to realize that any number of children will find themselves in this same predicament once the war is over. Pope Francis has pointed out that many of these children are going to be left without a father, without a grandfather, or without an older brother. When they return to their homes, they will bring their grief with them. It is ok to feel uneasy with the goings on in the world around us, but the remedy is to keep Jesus close. Only He can provide a nourishment that satisfies our deepest hungers. He is the bread of life.

We can rest easier when we surrender to his love and grace. This connects us to the great truth — life is better when we let God watch over us. Eternal salvation is ours when we allow ourselves to wake up and accept His unending love for us.