My Dear People,
There are so many parallels between Jesus’s interaction with the crowd and God’s dealing with the Israelites in the desert. The Israelites in the desert were thinking with their stomachs. So, too, is the crowd in John 6. “You are looking for me. . . because you ate the loaves and were satisfied.” Jesus admonishes the crowd to aspire to something higher than physical satisfaction: “Do not work for food that perishes, but for the food that endures for eternal life.”
The “work of God” is to “believe in the one He sent.” So the crowd asks Jesus to perform a sign so they can believe. One wants to ask, “Hey guys, didn’t you see the sign He performed yesterday? Did you not eat the miraculous loaves yourselves? Does he have to repeat the miracle every single day in order for you to believe?” Apparently, so!
And we are reminded of the Israelites in the desert, who had seen the parting of the Red Sea, and yet they still grumbled and doubted. Do we, also, quickly forget God’s miracles and gifts in our lives and fall back into distrust?
Jesus speaks to the crowd about the “true bread from heaven!” They ask for this bread “always,” so Jesus reveals Himself to them, proclaiming: “I am the bread of life.”
As we continue reading John 6, in the coming weeks, we find; although Jesus speaks clearly, the crowds are befuddled by what He says and who He is. The Israelites in the desert ask: “What is this?” The crowds in John 6 ask: “Who is this?” In both cases, the people are face-to-face with divine nourishment and are not comprehending.
Are we in that same spot? Do we find ourselves asking, “But I’m a Christian and I still get hungry and thirsty, so what does Jesus mean?” Are we befuddled even though our salvation is staring us in the face? Or can we take a leap of faith and embrace this truth?
I am not merely a material being. I have an immortal soul. My true hunger is for God, to be in His presence, “always.”
Jesus can satisfy that hunger forever.
When we come forward to receive the Eucharist this week, say a quiet prayer that Jesus helps us recognize Him for whom He really is.
The Eucharist is the most sacred moment where Jesus is physically present in us. This should be the time we spend with Jesus in prayer, avoiding all distractions. It is a time to give thanks! In this thanksgiving prayer, we will be drawn closer to Jesus. This is indeed a very special time! Utilize it well.
This was emphasized at some of the presentations at the National Eucharistic Congress, last week. If you missed it, go to EWTN and click on demand. You will be able to access some of the talks.
[parts were taken from Reflection on the Sunday Mass Readings for year B]
Yours in Christ,