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. – John 6:35
Many years ago, our middlest child, Eliot, had reconstructive surgery on their upper jaw. It was a big surgery, and everyone was anxious. As we sat in the pre-op room, the surgeon came in to greet us and ask if we had any remaining questions or concerns. Then he did the most remarkable thing. He set down the special (and, I imagine, expensive) case holding his specialized “surgery glasses” and started to wrap up Eliot’s mane of curly hair. With those beautiful surgeon’s hands, he gently wrapped their hair in surgical cloth, tucking up each wayward curl, and securely taped it. He said he liked to do it himself to get it just right.
It was a job that could have been handled by anyone on that team. But the one whose hands would soon saw through our child’s jaw, were the hands that gently bound their hair.
It was an overwhelming moment. This attention to a seemingly small detail. But it stirred something deeper in me. That surgeon reminded me that while God cares about big things like climate change and economic justice and equity for all, in Jesus we are reminded that God also cares about everyday things like hunger, shelter, companionship. Things that most of us have the privilege of taking for granted are mentioned by Jesus over and over again in the gospels.
Jesus, the bread of life, cares about our spirits and our hungry bellies. Jesus, our rock and our salvation, cares about our faith life and our physical safety.
A friend of mine clerked for a judge who said, “If you tend to the small things, the big things will take care of themselves.” I have thought about that statement for decades. Because the big things matter. And they matter a lot. This election season feels like a very big thing. In some ways it feels as big as pandemic did: dividing us from one another, leaving us scared and uncertain about the future.
Perhaps we can find our ground in tending to the lived, everyday realities of our neighbors. Food, clean water, shelter, safety. Stuffing food shelves and backpacks. Handing out a few dollars to the man on the corner. Buying a cup of coffee for the person behind us at Starbucks. Or even their small grocery selection. Smile at a parent whose child is having a meltdown at Target and ask if you can help—because you have been there.
It seems to me that hope is born of bread, kindness and care. By seeing to the needs of our bodies, Jesus honored our humanity. Never diminishing the importance of a full belly or the dignity of clothing. Never. Salvation isn’t just a grand theological idea. Salvation comes when we care enough about God’s other children to see them in their everydayness.
Even more, we are learning that tending to the needs of neighbors is one of the most powerful ways to combat the false religion and exclusionary teachings of Christian Nationalism. By tending to the small things we stand together in love and strength in the face of the things that feel so big. And we bear witness to a God of love for all people. Even our “enemies.”
Be of good courage, friends. The God of hope is with you.
Pastor Chris
