Thank you to the families who hosted a traditional Mexican celebration of “Kings Day” last evening, January 6, Epiphany! The celebration began with a beautiful meal, progressed into telling the Epiphany story and emphasizing its importance in Mexico. We shared with one another each person’s impact on the lives of others around the family table, saying “thank you” for your presence in my life. Our hostess told of the tradition of placing a shoe under the tree so the kings could place a gift there, and then she asked for a shoe from each of us and escaped for a time. We were dismissed to go find our shoe and open our gift.  We played with our toys for a time and then we were served traditional Kings Cake – a sweet bread cake. We ate our cake carefully watching for “baby Jesus” who was baked into the bread. The person who received the tiny white baby was dubbed the person who would host next year’s celebration. Yes, I received the baby Jesus. Yes, I will be honored to host next year.

This Epiphany celebration created fond memories for my family. We will remember the work the families performed to bring us such a rich experience in culture that brought Epiphany to light in our hearts. We will remember Jesus in the bread and make plans for our 2011 Epiphany party.

The Psalmist recalls the work of God: Full of splendor and majesty is his work, and his righteousness endures forever. ⁴He has caused his wondrous works to be remembered; the LORD is gracious and merciful. ⁵He provides food for those who fear him; he remembers his covenant forever. Psalm 111:3-5

John records this interaction between Jesus and those whose fathers had been the recipients of the bread in the wilderness: So they said to him, "Then what sign do you do, that we may see and believe you? What work do you perform? ³¹ Our fathers ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written, 'He gave them bread from heaven to eat.'" ³²Jesus then said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, it was not Moses who gave you the bread from heaven, but my Father gives you the true bread from heaven. ³³For the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world." ³⁴They said to him, "Sir, give us this bread always." ³⁵Jesus said to them, "I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst. John 6:30-35

The bread of God is a person, the man, Jesus Christ. The religious leaders believed that Moses had given them bread; Jesus says, My Father gave you that bread in the wilderness and he gives you me, the bread of life. The religious leaders wanted the bread from heaven, in fact they demanded the bread saying, “Sir, give us this bread always.” They rejected The Bread of Life because he didn’t do the work of God according to their definition of and their parameters for the work of God.

Adam was told that because of his sin he would work and sweat for the bread he ate. Adam was given a promise that God would provide restoration of the relationship in the seed. The children of Israel did not work for the Manna in the wilderness, it was a gift sent from heaven which foreshadowed the gift of the bread of life. Jesus, the bread of life, worked the work of God to bring restoration, redemption, wholeness, healing, light and life. Jesus, the bread of life continues to work the work of God.

We do not work for the bread of life; he worked for us; he works for us and in us and through us. May God grant us courage to receive the work of God. May God grant us boldness to repeat his word and work where we live and work and play. Blessed Kings Day and blessings IN Christ, Cindy

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