The sixth chapter of John’s gospel begins with the story of Jesus feeding a massive crowd with a mere five barely loaves and two dried fish, reminding them of God’s tender and loving care. This weekend’s gospel continues to unfold this rich and powerful chapter, where we hear the familiar words of Jesus, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me will never hunger, whoever believes in me will never thirst.” With those words, Jesus is inviting us to a spiritual transformation, to a journey which leads to a deeper faith that nourishes us with a relationship with Jesus, giving us new life through him, with him, and in him.
People followed Jesus across the Sea of Galilee hoping to be fed with more bread and fish, and many left disappointed. Today, we have a developed theology of the Eucharist, but for those in the crowd, Jesus’ words were radical, and many turned away. We understand that Jesus is the Bread of Life that nourishes us, giving us food for our journey of faith. The Eucharist is an encounter with our Risen Lord, in community, where we break open the word together, break bread together, and together find nourishment in our Risen Lord.
As we continue our journey of faith, there is nothing we can say or do to earn God’s love. God’s love is freely given to us, and we are simply invited to believe in God’s divine presence in our lives. Jesus is our Bread of Life, food for our journey.
May God bless you and your loved ones today, tomorrow, and forever more.
Fr. Harry