The Bread of Life Discourse

Today's Reflections 

The Bread of Life Discourse

Jn 6:22-29

²²The crowd that remained across the sea saw that there had been only one boat there, and that Jesus had not gone along with his disciples in the boat, but only his disciples had left. ²³Other boats came from Tiberias near the place where they had eaten the bread when the Lord gave thanks. ²⁴When the crowd saw that neither Jesus nor his disciples were there, they themselves got into boats and came to Capernaum looking for Jesus. ²⁵And when they found him across the sea they said to him, “Rabbi, when did you get here?” ²⁶Jesus answered them and said, “Amen, amen, I say to you, you are looking for me not because you saw signs but because you ate the loaves and were filled. ²⁷Do not work for food that perishes but for the food that endures for eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For on him the Father, God, has set his seal.” ²⁸So they said to him, “What can we do to accomplish the works of God?” ²⁹Jesus answered and said to them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in the one he sent.”

 

Reflection:
 

Do not work for food that perishes. The crowd looks for Jesus and follows him. But they are motivated by the thought of getting free food from Jesus. They have been impressed by the multiplication of the loaves and fish. If Jesus has multiplied the loaves, surely he can do more for them and give more than bread.

But Jesus reminds them not to work for food that perishes but for the food that endures for eternal life, which the Son of Man will give them. Beyond the physical bread, there is another bread that will bring them to eternal life. And he himself is the bread that has come from the Father. He himself is the living bread that will lead them to everlasting life.

Why do we seek and follow Jesus? Are we just fascinated by his miraculous deeds or thrilled by his extraordinary wonders? Jesus asks us to go beyond these. Let us seek Jesus with the eyes of faith. Let us follow him, for we believe that he alone can lead us to the Father.

Do you see the Eucharist as food unto eternal life?