Burger bun or Croissant?

 

No visit to Paris could be complete without going to Notre Dame. As we approached, we saw the barrier fences encircling the cathedral, and the cranes busy on the reconstruction after the devastating fire. We’d expected to see that: we hadn’t expected to see a tented enclosure with signs inviting us to a Fete du Pain. Hundreds, if not thousands, of visitors queued up to buy breads. Only in France would a Bread Festival seem so interesting!

Bleachers faced the tent, bleachers busy with bread-eating visitors. Clustering round the display of breads from the world, we stood enthralled to watch pâtissiers speeding round the kitchens, competing with one another as they produced croissants and other delicacies.

I was amused, and a little chagrined, to see that the bread identified as being the most identifiable from the USA was a hamburger bun! Not even a cinnamon roll, or a donut, or cornbread. A humble burger bun. Sigh.

The Fete du Pain was a sophisticated presentation of the staple of most societies. Visitors’ attention was focused on the bread we consume, and though this temporary structure crouched in the shadow of the iconic towers of Notre Dame (which didn’t burn), there was no mention of the true Bread of Life.

All the rolling and buttering and rerolling and more buttering of the fanciest and most delicious

croissants does not produce something which satisfies like Jesus. Sometimes we make the gospel so complicated when, in fact, Jesus’ message is simple. ‘I am the bread of life. Come to me and you will not hunger…’

More of a burger bun than a croissant?