Greetings on this the Monday of the Third Week of Easter
Readings: Acts 6:8-15; Psalm 119:23-24, 26-27, 29-30; John 6:22-29
Summary
The Bread of Life Discourse
So they said to him, “What can we do to accomplish the works of God?” Jesus answered and said to them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in the one he sent.” (Jn 6:28-29).
The Bread of Life discourse, a major teaching of Jesus, begins with the obvious internal conflict we have as Jesus notes:
Jesus 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 (Jn 6:26).
Jesus notes they are not interested in the ‘Signs’ (the presence of God, the person of Jesus) but food.
But not food, the control (formula, self-administering aid).
What can we do to accomplish the works of God?
Self-Interest
Absent is the sense of community. There isn’t the question of how can we feed many (as you did)? But what can I have for myself irrespective of the needs of others. Sometimes we need to think for our own needs, but never exclusively.
Self-sufficiency
We are taught to be self-sufficient.
If Jesus won’t give us bread, then give us the secret to make the bread. We want to be self-sufficient. The contradiction is, of course, you aren’t self-sufficient if you need someone else to show you, empower you, to make super abundant bread (as like the Feeding of the 5,000).
Jesus answered and said to them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in the one he sent.” Do 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.” (Jn 6:29, 27).
Self-destruction
It seems odd to say that self-sufficiency can be directing us toward self-destruction. But in this case it is just that. The more we isolate ourselves from one another, from the Lord and from our true interconnected selves, we risk everything. The Lord offers life eternal. Life – connected and fulfilling and need filling in every aspect (bread being a symbol of life in this gospel portion).
Reflection
Like the psalmist we acclaim:
Remove from me the way of falsehood,
and favor me with your law.
The way of truth I have chosen;
I have set your ordinances before me.
(PS 119:29-30)
Personal Reflection
Let us not negotiate with the Lord for our self-sufficiency but our interconnectivity and relation with each other and the divine.
Sacred Readings full text: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/042026.cfm
Peace be with you,
Deacon Gerry