Let Us Break Bread Together

Let us break bread together on our knees, (on our knees)

Let us break bread together on our knees. (on our knees)

When I fall on my knees with my face to the rising sun,

O Lord, have mercy on me.

Let us drink wine together on our knees, (on our knees)

Let us drink wine together on our knees. (on our knees)

When I fall on my knees with my face to the rising sun,

O Lord, have mercy on me.

Let us praise God together on our knees, (on our knees)

Let us praise God together on our knees. (on our knees)

When I fall on my knees with my face to the rising sun,

O Lord, have mercy on me.

            In the past year I have probably heard the song “Break Bread Together” about once or twice a week. But what does it really mean to break bread together? I have broken bread almost every Sunday since I made my first communion in the second grade. I have shared my faith and the scriptures with others. I go to church, a lot.  I have traveled to places in and out of the States. But when have I truly broken bread with the people around me.

            It was not until a Chuukese wedding reception and a little advice from the book “The Irrestible Revolution” I came to realize what breaking bread was actually about. Sitting in the middle of my students and a couple fellow teachers eating rice, breadfruit, taro, lobster, shrimp, and sharing cans of root beer I noticed for the first time it was not just about culture. I have done the eating with my hands and sharing everything on plate for a good year. But it was about breaking bread, literally. When we eat together, share food and drinks, its not only about filling our tummies, its about being a part of a community. Not only a community of Xavier students and staff, but a community of Christians, standing together, sharing our lives.

            We didn’t need a church, a homily, or even a priest. We didn’t need a big show or even gospel music. It was simple. It was Jesus, who turned a couple pieces of bread and fish into a meal for everyone. And it was Jesus who ate bread and wine at His last supper. He was not a man who ate feasts of food or dined in the best places. He broke bread with His followers. He ate simple meals. Looking around on Saturday night at the wedding, I noticed the meal in front of us. There was plenty of food to feed everyone, but it was simple. Rice, taro, fish, shrimp, pig, breadfruit, potato salad. Simple things from the land and the sea. Simple things Jesus may have eaten. Simple foods, that bring a community together, and truly live out the gospel; sharing life and sharing Christ. A simple thing I have been lucky enough to experience. A simple thing, in a simple place, with everyday people, that has continued to teach me more about the gospel and Jesus than any church ever has. 

My One Minute View from "Paradise"

Even I needed to look at this picture. This picture was from about a month ago, before school when we were just floating along enjoying our time here. Were getting into the third week, with work piled up, there was hardly any power or internet today, and NO WATER. All I wanted all day was a shower...and its the one thing I couldn't do. Sometimes I still even need a reminder about how lucky I am here. I pray that I remember that as much as  I can this year.

Warren Buffet and Micronesians-The way we should all be living!

Our director, Fr. Rich recently gave a homily applauding Warren Buffet for making the public statement, by announcing that the upper class should have to pay more on taxes. He said that the rich get out of paying taxes, even though they have the money for it. He believes it would be in the best interest for the US to give higher taxes to the rich. After recently hearing what a fiticoco (Chuukese word for tangled mess) the US is, how they want to abolish unions (really, Wisconson?) and soon eliminate the middle class, this brought tears to my eyes. I know I am far removed from many things happening in the States, but I believe what Buffet is talking about is something that I have had the privilege of seeing in the past year.
Though the Micronesians don't have much, and many live off of the land, I have seen something so beautiful in this culture. Micronesians share everything. Literally, I have not opened a can of soda, candy bar, or bag of chips and not shared it. Everything I have is not mine, its everyone's; its the communities. Its actually something that is expected, that we will share everything with the community. Even when someone from the family gets a big monetary bonus at work or gets brought food to feed an army (which happens a lot more then you think) they share it with their neighbors and their clans. For an American girl, this took some getting used to, and at first I wanted the bag of chips or the soda to myself. But after living here for a year, I believe this is one system, that actually works, people are actually happy, and money really means buying more goods for our friends and neighbors. Sharing is caring. Government leaders and high chiefs (our upper class) also give away everything to share with the people, because that is their culture and it is the right thing to do.
So what do Warren Buffet and Micronesians have in common? The idea of sharing, the idea that everyone is created equal, and everyone deserves to be treated as a child of God. Its a simple thing really, share. Share what you have with everyone. And in the end, I have faith, that you will be blessed in the most beautiful way.