April 17, 2018 – Scripture Reading Reflection
Gospel
The crowd said to Jesus: "What sign can you do, that we may see and believe in you? What can you do? Our ancestors ate manna in the desert, as it is written: He gave them bread from heaven to eat." So Jesus said to them, "Amen, amen, I say to you, it was not Moses who gave the bread from heaven; my Father gives you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is that which comes down from heaven and gives life to the world." So they said to Jesus, "Sir, give us this bread always." Jesus said to them, "I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me will never hunger, and whoever believes in me will never thirst." (JN 6:30-35)
Reflection
In today’s gospel, the word “bread” keeps getting repeated.
I associate bread with sustenance and when we eat just enough, we have energy to go on with our daily activities. When we eat too much, we grow in girth.
When Jesus said, “I am the bread of life”, I imagine that he sustains us, in particularly nourishing our souls. When we have just enough, we receive enough grace to survive our daily trials. We can never have too much, and we grow in mirth.
Notice how your soul rejoices after receiving the Holy Eucharist.
What resonated with me, is that the crowd asked for a sign and after hearing Jesus’ response they asked Him to “give us this bread always”.
Like the crowd, I too search for signs. As I drink my coffee, I savor on the coffee beans. I ponder on the coffee beans. How was it discovered and nurtured to growth? What conditions did the farmers have to go through to make sure their crops become a harvest? Where did the seed come from? And good soil? And the rain? All good things originate from our Creator.
So, when the world asks to give them a sign, let’s share with them the “bread of life”. After all, they asked to have “this bread always”.
Let us pray;
Lord Jesus, help us bring life to this world.
Draw us closer to you, so we will never hunger.
Immerse our unbelief in your Mercy, so we will never thirst.
Amen.
