presence

Bread is a consistent and powerful image through the Bible, a symbol of physical sustenance, divine blessing and community. It serves as the central element of hospitality, and beyond food, it represents the spiritual nourishment and the covenant of deep intimacy between YHWH and his people. The bread of God's presence, the true 'bread' of heaven - communing with Jesus, the 'bread of life' (Jn 6:51).  In Ezekiel, as a result of their choices to not value intimacy with YHWH, the people of Judah ended up separated from him, symbolically eating defiled bread that could not sustain them. Likewise, some settle for second hand bread which is an over-reliance on other people's intimacy with Jesus that we partake of without ever going to Jesus - the source. The invitation in this message is to pursue the presence of YHWH, feast on his bread so that we offer the world something more than religion.