The theme of manna – the “bread from heaven” – plays a major part in Johns Bread of Life Discourse. Manna provided miraculously in the desert for 40 years was considered the greatest miracle that God worked through Moses. The crowd challenges Jesus to work a similar miracle so that they can believe in him. Jesus responds that he is the true bread that comes down from heaven.
It appears that the “manna” was a sweet resinous substance that oozed from some desert trees and shrubs. It was edible, but not normally used as food.
The Israelites were only to gather enough for each day, trusting that God would not fail to provide it for them the following day. On the day before the Sabbath, they were allowed to gather twice as much so tthat they could observe the Sabbath rest and not have to perform the “work” of gathering the manna on the Sabbath.
The Israelites saw the manna as an expression of God’s special care for them. Moses told them to put some manna in an urn and place it in the Ark of the Covenant so that they could show it to later generations. Their descendants would then have evidence of how much God loved them.
“Manna” can still be found in the Sinai peninsula today.
Listen to these words very carefully…the Father draws us near to Jesus.
Actually, there is no other way to get there. On our own, we cannot connect with the Lord. It is a grace given to us by God.
God doesn’t act upon us physically, dragging us to the Scriptures, or to the Eucharist, or to prayer. God acts upon our hearts, loves us as daughters and sons. And because of that, there is a pull in us toward our brother Jesus.
It’s not our own doing. We’re drawn to Jesus. There is a pull, and internal movement toward Christ.
Think of it – a “pull” in me toward Christ, put there by God. Have I sensed it? And when I sense it, in whatever form, do I respond to it?
The only other option is to resist it.
Augustine said it well: “Our hearts were made for you, O God, and they will not rest until they rest in you.”