Bread Of Life

' I am the bread of life. Jesus ' statement in today's gospel is a familiar one ., but has there ever been a saying so difficult to fathom ? Bread is the most basic of foods , a food which sustains human life . The ancient custom of breaking bread commom along all peoples, is profound mark of hospitality and togetherness: bread is not only necessary for sustenance of life , but, when shared, becomes a symbol of community, of communion with one another. Then there is that leap of faith : at the eucharist , bread becomes the body of Christ.