From listening to thousands of case histories in my work as a clinical psychologist, I can attest that a person’s most revered childhood memories are reserved for the one who fed them — most often a mother, but sometimes grandmother, father, older sister, or kindly relative. At funerals also, it seems the fondest recollections and deepest love are accorded to the person who sustained and nurtured one’s early life.

I don’t just mean physical sustenance either. Psychologist Harry Harlow at the University of Wisconsin famously demonstrated in the 1960s that milk alone does not forge the bond between primate parents and their offspring. Rather, young monkeys cling to a maternal presence that offers comfort, reassurance and protection. Most compelling is a nurturing figure who feeds the “spirit.”

No one knew this human truth better than Jesus himself. When listening to the Bread of Life discourse from John’s Gospel (Chapter 6) during the first two weeks in August, this bi-level message emerges. “I am the bread of life…” means just that — Jesus feeds us body and soul with himself. The miracle of the true presence in the Eucharist affords us a spot every Sunday on that Galilee hillside where we are fed just like the crowd of five thousand. Fed with the Bread of life. Fed by the Word. Fed by the overflowing love of the Savior.

I had the privilege of seeing a sculpture by Dominican Sister Mary Peter Tremonte (1930-1997) depicting Jesus with little children. Her rendition portrayed Jesus in a playful setting with children clambering all over him as if to eat him up. They were attracted to his joyful spirit, his gentle touch, his loving nature. He fed their souls, with himself.

As adults, are we really any different from children when it comes to Christ? Of course we need physical food. But just as important is having our spirits fed and our souls nourished.

Unfortunately, life can offer many instances where relationships meet a physical need but roil our souls. Perhaps you’ve worked for an oppressive boss when you needed the job to support your family, but your spirit suffered every day? Maybe you’ve had an unpleasant neighbor who stirred constant conflict? Perhaps your family includes a difficult member whose temperament contaminates the atmosphere? Food, shelter and clothing are necessary, but a loving spirit makes all the difference.

The wonderful thing about our Bread of Life — Jesus — is he supplies all our needs in relationship with him. His divine nature combines all the human elements of physical sustenance, enduring truth, unconditional love and endless joy, and then surpasses them. We need only trust and believe in him. “If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever…” (Jn6:51). What more could we desire?

We always remember our earthly caregivers and nurturers who started us in life. How can we ever forget the God who created us, feeds us with the bread of heaven, and offers eternal life?