“Do not work for food that perishes but for the food that endures for eternal life.” In last Sunday’s Gospel, we heard about Jesus feed a crowd of more than five thousand, and how the people, in their amazement, exclaimed, “This is truly the Prophet, the one who is to come into the world.” The prophet they were speaking about may have been Elisha who, as we heard in last week’s first reading, fed a crowd of 100 people with just 20 barley loaves and some fresh grain in the ear, or to Moses who, as we heard just a moment ago in today’s first reading, provided quail and manna to the whole Israelite community throughout their wandering in the desert. The response of the people who had been with Jesus when he fed the 5,000 was to follow him to Capernaum in the hope that he would feed them, once again. Jesus understands their hunger but knows it is not a spiritual one. They clearly haven’t understood the true significance of what he did with those simple loaves and fishes. In an attempt to refocus their minds, Jesus tells them, “Do not work for food that perishes but for the food that endures for eternal life.”
But as is often the case, the crowd following Jesus just doesn’t get it. They only want to fill their stomachs and are unable to see past the gift to the giver – God who wants to regain them as his beloved people. As it was with Moses and Elisha, God showed his care for his people through his son, Jesus, to first of all assure them that he would care for them in their need and second – and much more importantly – that he wants them back in a close relationship with him in this present age and, indeed, for all eternity. Unfortunately, so many of the people recognized only the source of immediate satisfaction of their hunger; they missed the sign of the eternal banquet that God had prepared for them in heaven.
In today’s Gospel, we hear Jesus remind them that it was the Father who fed their ancestors with manna – as a sign of his love that “gives life to the world.” They remain clueless, however, simply asking for a never-ending source of bread to feed their stomachs. They simply do not grasp his words and the meaning behind them!
As I’m sure you know, this part of the Gospel of John is referred to as the Bread of Life discourse. Beginning today, and continuing for the next few Sundays, we will hear passages from this important teaching as Jesus begins to identify himself as the one who feeds all who hunger for truth and knowledge of God – the true bread of life, given by the Father to satisfy our deepest spiritual need.
Today, and for the next several weeks, as we hear the discourse proclaimed and the people’s response to Jesus’ self-revelation, we have the opportunity to think about our own response to the Bread of Life, now offered to us at this Eucharistic feast right here.
Like the people in today’s Scriptures, we, too, can search out the wrong things in life: things that we think we need or that we believe will fulfil our every desire. Like the ancient Israelites and the people in Jesus’ day, we are all on a life-long journey of faith. In the face of this dusty road of life, we can grumble as the Israelites did, preferring the fleshpots of Egypt even though their full stomachs came with slavery. Or, we can spend our time and energy concerned only about filling our stomachs, satisfying our immediate, physical needs.
As we hear in today’s second reading, Paul admonishes the Christians living in Ephesus – and us – not to live like Gentiles, but in Christ. There is a fuller truth about life that we have learned from Jesus as he urges us to live in righteousness and holiness. Remember, righteousness speaks of being in a right relationship with God who is holy. The Eucharist we celebrate today nourishes our minds and feed our souls. It is only in coming to our Lord that our deepest hungers will be fulfilled. And, God’s unfailing love and abundant care for each of us are ever-present if we are only ready to accept him.
As we hear Jesus declare today – and next week, as well – he came to offer us “food that endures forever,” he is the “living bread that came down from heaven; whoever eats this bread will live forever.” In receiving the Eucharist, we have a foretaste of the heavenly banquet God has prepared for us. I urge you to reflect on this great gift and the truth that Jesus has come to offer us and make sure that, unlike the ancient Israelites who grumbled against Moses or the Jews of Jesus’ time who looked only to fill their stomachs, you keep your focus on Jesus the Bread of Life as you journey through this life to the eternal life with him – and his heavenly Father – our loving God. It’s so easy to just focus on today’s fleshpots – those things that give us instant gratification and fill our bellies. But, we all find that the satisfaction is passing, happiness is different from joy, and only God can offer us true joy, here and for all eternity.