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."
So they said to him, "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 him, "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."
REFLECTION
"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"
In last week's Gospel we read about the multiplication of bread and fishes (Jn 6:1-15), and how Jesus fed the 5000 men, not counting women and children. Plus there were 12 wicker baskets filled with bread after everybody had their fill.
The Gospel continues today letting us know of a conversation Jesus has with people that followed Him after this miracle. He knew some were following because, well, there was free food they didn't have to work for. And how gently He explains to them that it is better to eat the bread of Heaven and how He is the bread of life, and if we want to go to Heaven, we must eat of it.
In the following verses Jesus will continue explaining this to His disciples, and they found this so shocking that they will leave Him and return to their former lives.
The questions here for us are why are we in the Church? Why do we follow Christ.
I know of people that join Church ministries to gain a better social reputation and sranding. By helping at my parish, what am I doing? What are my motives? Am I really serving God and His people, or myself?
An Apostolate like ours is a tough one. In one hand when we ask people to pray for priests the most common answer is "I already pray for priests". Do we know why we pray for them? What is our spirituality and our charism? Would you like to know more about it? Would you like to get together with us and read our handbook and have it explained?
Without the priesthood we wouldn't have the Sacraments. We would not have the Eucharist, which is the Bread of Life that Jesus gives us everyday for our salvation.
Join us in praying for priests everyday so this gift of Jesus Himself fills our bodies and souls and helps us in our way of sanctification and salvation.
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