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JESUS CHRIST, THE BREAD OF LIFE [2]

This story of the manna in the desert provides the background for the section of John’s Gospel that describes Jesus as the bread of life (John 6:1-7). The day after Jesus had multiplied the loaves and fishes, that the same crowd that had witnessed this miracle went looking for Jesus (John 6:22-24). When they found Him, Jesus told them: “Do not labor for the food which perishes but for the food which endures to eternal life, which the Son of man will give to you” (John 6:27 RSV). Knowing that the crowd was caught was caught up with the “perishable” – the bread and the miracles that Jesus was performing – Jesus sought to turn their eyes toward the “imperishable” – the mercy of God and His loving presence (see Catechism of the Catholic Church [CCC], 547-549).

The people, struggling to understand Jesus’ words, asked Him: “What must we do, to be doing the works of God?” (John 6:28). Jesus answered them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent” (John 6:29). Jesus was interested in something deeper than signs and wonders; He wanted their trust and faith. Faith seeks God’s presence. Those with faith place their lives in Jesus’ hands every day, expecting to experience something more than their eyes can see.

This is the kind of faith that can experience Jesus in the Eucharist. Both in the Eucharist and in everyday life, Jesus wants to be the source of our strength and wisdom, our hope and our courage. Every day, He wants to guide us and provide for us, just as He did for the Israelites in the desert.
Every day, He longs for us to turn to Him and receive Him – Jesus, the bread of life – into our hearts.

Jesus’ listeners began to murmur and grumble at His words, just as the Israelites did in the desert. His invitation to them to receive the bread of life distressed them and challenged their faith, to the point that most of them walked away (John 6:66; CCC, 1336). Yet the twelve – Jesus’ closest disciples – stayed with Him. Peter told Jesus: “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life, and we have believed, and have come to know, that You are the Holy One of God” (John 6:68-69). Their hearts had been touched; they knew that only Jesus could provide for their needs. They recognized that Jesus was the true bread of life, and they wanted to be fed by Him every day. [to be continued]

A Christian Pilgrim

JESUS CHRIST, THE BREAD OF LIFE [3]

From the earliest days of His life on the earth, it was recognized that Jesus would be “a sign that is spoken against” (Luke 2:34), someone who would not be easily accepted. Many people heard Jesus teach and saw Him perform miracles. News of His power swept through Galilee and Judea, and He began to attract large crowds (Mark 1:32; John 12:12-18). Some – like Zacchaeus (Luke 19:1-10) and Matthew (Matthew 9:9-13) – were transformed when they met Jesus. Some – like Peter (Luke 5:2-8) and the sinful woman (Luke 7:36-50) – were brought to their knees in repentance and worship. Still others heard Jesus and walked away, their lives hardly changed at all (John 6:60-65). How Jesus suffered over those who could not understand that God was reaching out from heaven to touch them (Matthew 23:37-39)!

At the last supper, Jesus told His disciples: “I have earnestly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer” (Luke 22:15). His heart burned with such love that He continued resolutely toward Calvary, even though He knew what awarded Him. Jesus considered the cross a worthy price to pay if it meant rescuing us from sin and reuniting us with our Father.

Even today, Jesus’ heart continues to burn with desire for us. As we receive the body and blood of Jesus in the Eucharist, God’s burning love is made available to us, just as it was made available to Peter and the others. Jesus wants to heal and transform us, to fill us with His presence. Yet, it is possible that we too could come into His presence and still walk away unchanged.

Jesus’ invitation to eat His body and drink His blood should shake us up and challenge us. John’s account gives two options as we come to receive the Eucharist. We can receive Jesus’ presence and pray like Peter: “You are the Holy One of God” (John 6:69), or we can walk away unchanged (John 6:60). As we come to the table of the Lord, let us fix our eyes and hearts on Jesus. As we are united with Him in a living and humble faith, He has promised that we will never hunger or thirst. Just as He fed the Israelites and took care of their every need, the Father Himself will care for us as we place our lives in His hands.

PRAYER: Holy Spirit, we welcome You deeper into our hearts. Enable us to open our hearts to Jesus as He comes to us in the Eucharist. Fill us with Your love and Your power so that we may be a pleasing dwelling place for the Lord. Spirit of God, create in us a longing for Jesus’ table that He longed to share with us. Amen.