John 6:24-35 (NRSV)
Christ, the bread of life
So when the crowd saw that neither Jesus nor his disciples were there, they themselves got into the boats and went to Capernaum looking for Jesus.
When they found him on the other side of the sea, they said to him, "Rabbi, when did you come here?" Jesus answered them, "Very truly, I tell you, you are looking for me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves. Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures for eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For it is on him that God the Father has set his seal." Then they said to him, "What must we do to perform the works of God?" Jesus answered them, "This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent." So they said to him, "What sign are you going to give us then, so that we may see it and believe you? What work are you performing? Our ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written, 'He gave them bread from heaven to eat.'" Then Jesus said to them, "Very truly, I tell you, it was not Moses who gave you the bread from heaven, but it is my Father who gives you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is that which comes down from heaven and gives life to the world." They said to him, "Sir, give us this bread always."
Jesus said to them, "I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.
So when the crowd saw that neither Jesus nor his disciples were there, they themselves got into the boats and went to Capernaum looking for Jesus.
When they found him on the other side of the sea, they said to him, "Rabbi, when did you come here?" Jesus answered them, "Very truly, I tell you, you are looking for me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves. Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures for eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For it is on him that God the Father has set his seal." Then they said to him, "What must we do to perform the works of God?" Jesus answered them, "This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent." So they said to him, "What sign are you going to give us then, so that we may see it and believe you? What work are you performing? Our ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written, 'He gave them bread from heaven to eat.'" Then Jesus said to them, "Very truly, I tell you, it was not Moses who gave you the bread from heaven, but it is my Father who gives you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is that which comes down from heaven and gives life to the world." They said to him, "Sir, give us this bread always."
Jesus said to them, "I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.
Reflection
These people had just been fed miraculously by Jesus at Capernaum. Jesus had fed 5000 with a few loaves of bread and a small amount of fish. Jesus had walked on water and proved that he was beyond the physical limits of this world. It sure would be hard to believe this for me. How could it be true? What's the trick? What's the meaning of all of this?
So Jesus goes deeper. He's not there at this moment to feed the ones who may be already full of food. But maybe if we stay with Jesus we won't have to work for food? No! That's not the point!
Jesus tells them that the food that lasts forever is not a result of our labor but is a gift from God. This is a different kind of food that what we humans take it to be. So we ask Jesus, "What can we do to receive this food?" How about faith Jesus implores. Well give us a sign!
Hold on! Faith is not based on sight. Hold on again! What did you just witness? A sight of feeding 5000. How many times do we miss the miracles of God coming down into our world in miraculous fashion. When God intervenes into our lives that's a miracle!
You are sick and yet we miss the blessing of God active in our lives in the skills God gives to nurses, doctors and all those involved in caring for you. How about the rain that brings forth the food we eat from the ground? What about the growth of that very food. We are surrounded by miracles everyday, yet we close our eyes to them and think only of our own selfish needs. We turn life around and upside down and focus on the negatives instead of seeing, with eyes open, the positives of life. Open our eyes and see God active in this world doing what we don't deserve and caring for us in all of our lives. There are signs a plenty!
And then there are signs that go beyond the physical world into the spiritual realm. Signs in the sacraments, in the bread and in the wine. Signs in the Word read in the Bible and the Word spoken.
You see Jesus points us to the acceptance of all that God has blessed us with of which we could never earn through labor. We are loved by God and cared for even in the midst of sin, death, the devil and all sorts of illness and aging. God is delivering us daily through a deep love that is displayed in what Jesus has done for us on that cross years ago and even to this day. We can't earn God's favor and love through labor. We can only accept this gift, honor Jesus and serve God with grateful hearts with all our being. We come to Christ and Christ comes to us and we believe and have faith. Thanks be to God!
Prayer
Lord, you live through so many and bless our lives continually. Open my eyes and hear my proclamation of faith. You are God and only through you can I be saved. I accept this gift of life through your Son Jesus today... tomorrow... and forever. --- Amen
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