Scripture reading: Exodus 16:1–36

Waybread

Give us this day our daily bread. (Matthew 6:11)

In his classic The Lord of the Rings, master storyteller J.R.R. Tolkien tells the epic story of how Frodo Baggins’ journey to Mordor saved Middle-earth from the powers of darkness. Without supernatural assistance the journey, long, difficult, and full of dangers, would surely fail.

One element in Frodo’s ability to successfully complete his mission is mentioned so casually that one almost misses it. Early in the journey, Frodo and his friend Sam pass through Lorien, the land of the Elves. Before they leave, the Elves give the travelers a special food, called lembas or waybread. A thin cake or wafer, the food looked like a simple cracker. But these wafers had extraordinary properties. A single bite could give the pilgrim strength for an entire day. However, only those with pure hearts liked the taste. Orcs and their kin found the food disgusting and refused to eat it.

The remarkable thing about this waybread was that its potency “increased as trav- elers relied on it alone and did not mingle it with other foods. It fed the will, and it gave strength to endure, and to master sinew and limb beyond the measure of mortal kind.”

Because Tolkien’s Christian faith inspired much of his imagination, it is easy to believe that he was thinking of Holy Communion when he wrote about lembas. Perhaps he was thinking of Jesus’ words in the sixth chapter of John when he described the wonderful properties of this waybread.

I am the bread of life. Your forefathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died. This is the bread that comes down from heaven, so that one may eat of it and not die. 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. . . . For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink. . . . Whoever feeds on this bread will live forever. (John 6:48–51, 55, 58)

In most of our churches Holy Communion consists of a tiny wafer and small cup of juice. But only the pure in heart will like the taste and benefit from the supernatural properties conveyed by the simple meal. Orcs and their kin will find the meal disgusting and receive no benefit, looking elsewhere for nourishment more in keeping with their carnal appetites. But for real pilgrims, this is a banquet! And when they eat in faith, their hunger is satisfied, their will is fed, and they find supernatural strength for the journey.

Bon appetit!

The danger is not lest the soul should doubt whether there is any bread,

but lest, by a lie, it should persuade itself that it is not hungry.—Simone Weil

 

point to ponder • What is your attitude toward Holy Communion?

prayer focus • Sustenance for today so that your will is strengthened.