The lights around our house, the lights around our Advent wreath, and the lights in our hearts grow brighter and brighter!

On this, the fourth Sunday of Advent, we will light the candles at our dinner table and enjoy a special meal together, especially savoring warm fresh bread. This day, we celebrate Jesus Coming to Feed the Hungry. We’ll read John 6, the beloved story of Jesus feeding the 5,000.

Several years ago, Ryan and I attended our dear friends’ wedding, at which the bride and groom shared communion together. When the groom was handed the loaf of bread, he dug in and tore off the largest chunk of communion bread I ever did see. (Aren’t most of us used to politely pinching off a tiny corner, to make sure there is enough to go around?) Then, he sunk his teeth into it viking style! As if he were famished. As if he had no table manners at all. As if he loved that bread.

I will never forget that image! Oh, to have such a voracious appetite for Christ. No pinching off a smidgen! But embracing the whole, wonderful, consuming power of Christ! Receiving the fullness of His gift to us!

I hope our Fourth Sunday of Advent has us breaking large portions of delicious bread in hand; and more, consuming immeasurable portions of Christ and His grace.

“I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. And the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh.” – Jesus, in John 6:51