The Bread of Life Discourse
Aug. 4, 2024
Last Sunday we began a five-week series of readings focused on the sixth chapter of the Gospel of St. John. We began with the story of the multiplication of the loaves and fishes last week, and now we begin, this week, four Sundays of reading from the Bread of Life Discourse.
Having witnessed the miracle of the multiplication of loaves and fishes, the crowd wanted to make Jesus King. Although their instincts were correct, their understanding of what the Kingship of Jesus Christ would look like was way off. He left them on the mountain and returned home to Capernaum. Realizing that He was gone, the crowd went to Capernaum to find Him, which they did.
He tells them that they are seeking Him because of the bread that they had eaten. They wanted Him to be a king who would provide for their material needs. Jesus says that they are looking for the wrong kind of bread. “Do not work for food that perishes, but for the food that endures for eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you.”
We, too, can become far too focused on food and other things that will perish. Possessions, positions, the esteem of others, etc. None of these will follow us into heaven. As it has been said, “You never see a hearse pulling a U-Haul.” Although we must care for our physical needs and those for whom we are responsible, our greater attention must be on those things that do not perish. Jesus Himself is the Bread come down from heaven, and it is in our relationship with Him that we will find fulfillment of our deepest needs and longings.
“I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me will never hunger, and whoever believes in me will never thirst.”
Over the next three weeks Jesus will flesh out this teaching, leading us to a greater understanding of His Presence among us in the Blessed Sacrament, and how our encounter with Christ, and our relationship with Him, is the only reality that will be enough for us.
—Fr. Mike Comer
Last Sunday we began a five-week series of readings focused on the sixth chapter of the Gospel of St. John. We began with the story of the multiplication of the loaves and fishes last week, and now we begin, this week, four Sundays of reading from the Bread of Life Discourse.
Having witnessed the miracle of the multiplication of loaves and fishes, the crowd wanted to make Jesus King. Although their instincts were correct, their understanding of what the Kingship of Jesus Christ would look like was way off. He left them on the mountain and returned home to Capernaum. Realizing that He was gone, the crowd went to Capernaum to find Him, which they did.
He tells them that they are seeking Him because of the bread that they had eaten. They wanted Him to be a king who would provide for their material needs. Jesus says that they are looking for the wrong kind of bread. “Do not work for food that perishes, but for the food that endures for eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you.”
We, too, can become far too focused on food and other things that will perish. Possessions, positions, the esteem of others, etc. None of these will follow us into heaven. As it has been said, “You never see a hearse pulling a U-Haul.” Although we must care for our physical needs and those for whom we are responsible, our greater attention must be on those things that do not perish. Jesus Himself is the Bread come down from heaven, and it is in our relationship with Him that we will find fulfillment of our deepest needs and longings.
“I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me will never hunger, and whoever believes in me will never thirst.”
Over the next three weeks Jesus will flesh out this teaching, leading us to a greater understanding of His Presence among us in the Blessed Sacrament, and how our encounter with Christ, and our relationship with Him, is the only reality that will be enough for us.
—Fr. Mike Comer
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