Sunday’s Blessing – 03/09/2025 – 1st Sunday of Lent – I AM the Bread of Life

Sunday’s Blessing – 03/09/2025 – 1st Sunday of Lent – I AM the Bread of Life

The observance of Lent began on Wednesday, March 5. Many in the non-liturgical church do not understand the purpose of the Lenten season. It is a time set aside to consider one’s relationship with Jesus using concentrated prayer and fasting to explore repentance and self-sacrifice more deeply. The concise definition is a 40 day period for the purpose of fasting, almsgiving, prayer, and repentance. It’s 40 days long patterned after the time Jesus spent in the wilderness being tempted by satan.

For 7 weeks, culminating on Easter Sunday, the Church is encouraged to participate in some level of fasting. Each Sunday of Lent, a topic will be presented to help the Christian grow in their relationship to God.

One Episcopal church is using the 7 “I AMs” of Jesus found in scripture. I plan to use these same themes in the 7 Sunday Blessing installments. I hope you follow along.

The first I AM to consider is found in John 6:35

Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.” (ESV)

Bread is considered a staple in the diet of most cultures. Jesus compared Himself to one of the basic essentials for life – food; not food for the body, but nourishment for the soul. When we feast on the Bread of Heaven, which is also described as The Word, which is Jesus, we will not hunger.

One of the first and foremost aspect of Lent is fasting. This is to remind us of the need we have for the Bread from God.

Now for this week’s blessing:

May you find your sustenance in the true Bread of Life as you spend time fasting

So you may learn to recognize the smell of Bread from Heaven

And be filled with the nourishment obtained through the Words of Life

Until you are sober and strong in the Spirit as He leads you

May you find all that pursuing Christ brings into your life

Which is, first of all, an abundant life (zoe – the God kind of life)

And includes every aspect of your existence

Spirit, Soul, and Body – all overflowing with God’s goodness

May you realize the purpose of Jesus being the Bread of Life

So you, being made in His image, might become a source of nourishment

Helping others find their way back to the Father

By feasting on the life-giving Truth found in you