The Gift of Bread

Dear Friend,

Last week the friars received a gift in the mail – a loaf of date nut bread baked by a dear friend of mine in Cincinnati Ohio. In high school back in Atlanta, our friendship grew out of conversations about religion. At the time, a “Jesus movement” was underway throughout the South and some of our classmates were being labeled “Jesus freaks.” As one of the few Catholics in the school, all this gave me a lot to think about. 

The gift of bread (delicious) was sent to us as a new-year gift, honoring the Jewish High Holy Days. (Yom Kippur begins at sundown on Sunday.) The bread reminded me of my friend’s spiritual/religious journey, from Protestant Christianity - she was/is a great fan of C.S. Lewis and back in the day had us all reading his classic Mere Christianity – to Catholicism by way of Messianic Judaism. That’s the short version, anyway. I’m so grateful that our friendship has continued over these many years and changes in our lives.

While munching on the date nut bread, I would probably do well to ponder this week’s scripture readings, which also revolve around the theme of change, and specifically the changes required of those whom Jesus summons to the vineyard. As in last week’s Gospel reading, the vineyard is meant to bring to mind the goodness and growth envisioned by Jesus for a renewed and fruitful people of Israel, summoned to the task of holiness. 

In her generosity to us, my old friend reminds me that we Catholics have a lot to learn from our Jewish heritage. The call to conversion through parables and the image of the vineyard are meant to trigger our willingness and open us to life.  Maybe bread – in all its forms – is meant to nourish us for exactly that.

Gratefully,

Fr. Dan ofm