The Holy Gospel according to John 6:22-29
[After Jesus had fed the five thousand men, his disciples saw him walking on the sea.]
The next day, the crowd that remained across the sea
saw that there had been only one boat there,
and that Jesus had not gone along with his disciples in the boat,
but only his disciples had left.
Other boats came from Tiberias
near the place where they had eaten the bread
when the Lord gave thanks.
When the crowd saw that neither Jesus nor his disciples were there,
they themselves got into boats
and came to Capernaum looking for Jesus.
And when they found him across the sea they said to him,
“Rabbi, when did you get here?”
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.
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.”
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.”
Reflection: Imagine if you were one of those people who witnessed, firsthand, the miracle of the multiplication of the loaves and fishes.
Let’s put this idea in a present setting that we are familiar with. Let’s imagine we went to our parish and there was this man there who was named Jesus. The rumor at your parish is spreading like wildflower about the miracles He did and that He resurrected from the dead. Then this man, wanted everyone to eat but only a few parishioners brought food. One brought some tacos and the other brought lumpia and another some ceviche. Just as Jesus realized this, men from the Knights of Columbus brought the mariachis and some sangria to drink. Now, it’s a party! Jesus realizes that there isn’t enough for all 3,000 at the parish. So, before our eyes He creates enough for everyone. And we all left the parish with Joy, good memories, our bellies full and believers.
Does that make you a Believer? Or would you question what you witnessed? What sort of an impact would that have had on you? Would it have drawn you into a deep faith in Jesus? Or would you have been more impressed with the free and miraculous food? What’s interesting is that Jesus feeds the five thousand (Friday’s Gospel) when they are not expecting it and not desiring it. But when they do come expecting it and desiring it the next day, He refuses. Jesus refuses another miracle because He wants the people to look deeper to the eternal reality.
What do you work for in life? Things that ultimately perishes? Or that which is eternal? This is an important question in today’s scripture. Too often we spend most of our lives putting most of our time and energy into those things that have little value for eternity (past or the future). But according to this scripture, we should be seeking “Food for Eternity” in our present lives.
In our own lives, living primarily for the deeper and eternal reality is often hard to do. It’s easy to keep our eyes on the superficial and less important aspects of life. How do I make more money? Or buy a new car? I’m worried about something. What new piece of clothing should I buy? And the list goes on. Of course, none of these things are evil, but they are all passing and will not have an effect upon our eternal soul. And, in fact, if we give too much attention to the superficial and least important aspects of life, they will have the effect of distracting us from that which is most important.
Action of the Day: Where is your focus? What concerns you the most every day? Hopefully your greatest concern is to grow deeper in faith in the Son of God. Reflect, today, upon this challenge from Jesus. Do not work for that which perishes; work for that which is eternal. Look at your priorities in life.
Audio Reflection
