Love that Bread

Wheat, Rye and Sourdough. Rolls, Baguettes and Flatbread. Ciabatta, Focaccia and Cornbread. These are a few of my favorite things. Being an American, bread is a major part of my diet. It might not be a basic food group but it sure is basic to me. I can’t eat Italian without a piece of French bread close by. Chili begs for a slice or two of some bread. A fresh baked crescent roll entices all of my senses. And then there is the sandwich, the staple of my lunch time diet. I love them all. I can’t conceive of a diet without bread of some type fairly regularity.
I would think that if you give your lives a thought you might feel the same way. It has been that way with me since my younger days, the days of Wonderbread (builds strong bodies 8 ways).
But we fail to realize how fortunate we are to have that experience. That came to me yesterday when I stopped by St. Mary’s Family Center and chatted with the supervisor. We were talking about how much in demand bread is at their food pantry. It is rare that they ever have enough to get through the day. That gave me pause to reflect that a good percentage of our neighbors in this area may not regularly have a simple item that is basic to me.
Once again, I am reminded how important St. Mary’s and other excellent food pantries are to our community. It does make me proud that they are there helping provide items that I think all should have.

Let us call to mind

These words appear towards the beginning of the liturgy of the mass: “Let us call to mind our sins.” If we are paying attention, we will then take a 30 second break from calling to mind the sins of others. I have often noticed that is what we spend a great deal of our time doing and we really enjoy it. I must say that I am quite good at it. Why is it that we so often center on other people short comings? Do we find some perverse pleasure in it? Do we feel some sense of superiority? For me, it probably comes from my personal insular view of Catholicism which, of course, is vastly superior to the Catholicism of most of the other pew rats that I share a church with. I do know that this focusing on other people’s perceived faults will rear its head often and for long periods of time unless I really work at concentrating on my own wrongdoings.
I guess that when we are spending our time thinking critically of others, we don’t have to focus on our own short comings and foibles. I know for me it is an effort to turn my thought inward. This does make think of the scriptural phrase: “Let he who is perfect cast the first stone.” Gosh knows that I am good enough at throwing these stones. In fact I could make the major leagues. I sure hate the fact that I need to stop this practice.
“Call to mind our sins.” This takes an effort they just don’t pop in there. And what is the value of “calling to mind” you sins? If you don’t call them to mind, you can’t name them, if you can’t name them you can’t work to eliminate them.