Pain Perdu is French for “lost bread,” which is a recipe for re-enlivening stale bread. Not only does the recipe save what would normally be thrown out, but it flavors it up to a delicacy even, with a uniqueness that transforms simple stale bread into a sweet flavored treat. From “poverty” comes tasty abundance!
“‘For out of Jerusalem shall come a remnant, and from Mount Zion, survivors. The zeal of the LORD of hosts shall do this.’
The Second Book of Kings (2 KGS 10 :9B-11, 14-21, 31-35A, 36) continues to tell us about the Assyrian captivity, and more specifically how Judah would be spared plunder and captivity. What is referred to as a remnant, or a “small piece” of the Hebrew people, is heralded as that which will be loved and protected. These are the “survivors” whom the Lord with “zeal” will protect and nurture.
“Therefore, thus says the LORD concerning the king of Assyria: ‘He shall not reach this city, nor shoot an arrow at it, nor come before it with a shield, nor cast up siege-works against it. He shall return by the same way he came, without entering the city, says the LORD. I will shield and save this city for my own sake, and for the sake of my servant David.’”
Again, I want to say that I don’t think that this is strictly a dualistic point in the Scriptures where God is only concerned about a “few” and not concerned about those who are captured and led into captivity. More than that, the Scriptures may be leading us into what would normally be unfamiliar territory – awareness and concern for the seemingly insignificant, the overlooked, or even the forgotten – that to which we don’t pay attention. The focus of God’s attention seems to be on these “lost” ones and what they mean for all of us!
We kind of get it backwards, don’t we? The BIG-ness of things spellbind us and attract us. The spectacular show of life draws us in. All this is good and well, but if it is the WHOLE picture for us, then we may find ourselves playing a part in a stage show that excites and entices but cannot really satisfy us. What we think we want will lead us through a gate wide open, but we can be disappointed to find ourselves in a field of famine – deprived of the reality of Life that alone can sustain us. We are led away as captives in search of other “gods.”
So, what really is the staleness of life? Our cultural images many times paint a pretty picture of what we “want” and “need,” so much so that, it doesn’t even occur to us that there could be another way of looking at things – another way of conceiving of “needs” and “wants” – another way of looking at PEOPLE!
In Matthew’s Gospel today (MT 7: 6, 12-14), we hear from Jesus:
“Do to others whatever you would have them do to you. This is the Law and the Prophets.”
What if our desires and even perceived “needs” took into consideration – from the start – everyone else, someone else, or for that matter, anyone else. From a consumer-society’s perspective this may sound very radical, even quite “narrow.” Who would not want to parade through the front gate to partake in the “fresh” and readily available? “ Who would even want to attempt to find another way that may take a little bit longer and involve a few more than only ourselves?
“Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the road broad that leads to destruction, and those who enter through it are many.
How narrow the gate and constricted the road that leads to life. And those who find it are few.”
It seems to me that we could just as easily consider self-centeredness, self-preservation, self-aggrandizement and any purely selfish quests as the “staleness of life.” This is a cultural back-flip in a way. The staleness here is the realization that this or that cannot satisfy. And why? Because the isolation that results from actions that do not take others into consideration leave us wide open to face alone the buffets of the selfish winds of ego-force. We don’t allow the closeness of others that can keep us fresh. We don’t make room for the shared space that allows protection and promotes enlivenment.
What if the “narrow gate” is simply other people, maybe people who are different than us? What if the narrowness is more a focus of attention on others that allows us to move through life within the context of a God loving us along the way – and we are together along the way. Almost paradoxically, the “many” who enter through the “wide gate” are not together, they are dispersed and unaware of the other projects of independence all around them on this open road. Ironically and in contrast, the “other” gate is “Narrow and the “other” road is “constricted” because we are aware of others and allowing others to travel with us and this can be uncomfortable. So, the “few” that find this narrow gate and constricted road to Life, in fact, multiply the numbers because they welcome and accept and bring others along with them. We are all “remnants” as long as we remain with each other.
Staleness is given flavor and abundance. The bread of life, though seemingly stale – most especially so when cultural images promote something much different – is seasoned, sweetened, tastier, and more abundant, when we “lose” the superficial “largeness” of selfish pursuits and collect and combine the ingredients of community into a unique and universal feast that can truly satisfy everyone. It is a taste of God!
Bon Appetit!
Peace
Thomas