I AM the Bread of Life

"I AM the Bread of Life" is a favorite quotation of mine, and this illustration results from long internalization and much thought. This design grew somewhat organically from my dedication to prepare the Holy Bread of offering each Sunday. This Holy Bread is the most essential part of our lives, because it nurtures our bodies and our souls. When I knead the holy bread each Saturday, I feel that I am touching the body of a baby Jesus. The dough is so tender, soft, and warm. The entire bread-making ritual involves much prayer.

            I placed in the center of this illustration my small icon of Christ Emmanuel. The icon is surrounded by the representation of dough with rich gold and copper acrylic. A woman, seen from above, appears only with her wheat-like golden hair and hands held upward in both prayer and touching, while kneading the dough. Her hair and hands, nothing more, represent her. The dough becomes the Holy Bread, represented by the seal with the sign ICXC NIKA (Christ conquers). From the bread emanates beams of light of wheat grain. Above all, two divine hands bless the woman and the bread to become the Body of Christ. The Bread of Life nurtures our souls for immortality. Once again, I tried to visualize the union between humanity and God. This time, the woman is giving birth to the Bread of Life, as she kneads and prays to God.