Most Holy Eucharist; the Holy Apostle Hermas; the Holy Martyr Hermes (138-61)
Apostle’s Fast
Read
1 Corinthians 11:23-32; John 6:48-54
Glory to Jesus Christ! Glory forever!
Since the dawn of agriculture bread has been a basic staple food of our human race. There is something so profoundly inviting about a home filled with the scent of baking bread. That scent brings on feelings of comfort and invites us to partake in hospitality. Our appetite is satisfied in an unique way by freshly baked bread. Bread is a staple of life and for this reason do we greet special guests with bread and salt.
It is for good reason that the Lord chose to initiate the Eucharist with bread. Based on our human experience of bread we can immediately understand the Lord’s teaching that he is the basic staple and nutrition of life. He is the one who gives us comfort, joy and becomes the bond of life that connects all humanity who share in him. Just like we cannot think of living without bread, so too our life without Christ is not life at all. The Eucharist is super-essential bread, which nourishes us more abundantly than any earthly bread. For by partaking of this Bread from heaven we are filled with a eternal life.