Friars Corner: The joy of Jesus, our heavenly bread
Fr. Bob Hilz, TOR
Exodus 16:1-4, 12-15; Psalms 78:3-4, 23-25, 54; Ephesians 4:20-24; John 6:24-35
This week we continue reflecting on God providing us with his bread of life. Last week’s first reading dealt with a man who offered God and Elisha his firstfruits in the form of twenty barley loaves. Elisha ordered the loaves to be given to the poor in need.
Today we look back to the Hebrews, having left a life in Egypt to wander homeless and hungry in the desert. The people complained bitterly against Moses and his brother Aaron. God provided his people food in dire circumstances. He gave them abundant quail in the evening and a daily portion of bread in the morning. Psalm 78 continues that theme that God: “opened the doors of heaven; He rained manna upon them for food and gave them heavenly bread.”
St. Paul in Ephesians today speaks of putting away our old self, our former way of life, corrupted by the demonic elements of the kingdom of darkness. What are the allurements of the dark side that draw us away from Jesus and his kingdom? We see greed and materialism, drugs, alcohol, sexual perversions, daily abortions, divorce and many others. How can we turn from these evil (and pagan) practices and accept Jesus as our Lord in his kingdom? Can we put on the new “creation in Christ” guided by his Holy Spirit? We need to meet Jesus in daily gospel readings and prayer. We then can be empowered by Jesus to live a transformed life.
A higher spiritual level
When we read St. John’s gospel we are moved from a worldly and human understanding, with our stomachs being filled with bread and fish, to being elevated to a higher spiritual level. As I look around at our church in our country and the parts of the world that I have visited, I sense most Catholics have not met and don’t understand who Jesus Christ really is and what he came to earth to do. If guided by his Holy Spirit, we come to know Jesus in these gospel stories our lives would truly change. We would move to the higher level of which Jesus and St. John speak. Our churches would be filled with jubilant praise and excited followers of Jesus.
Last week John told us the story of Jesus feeding five thousand men with five loaves and a few fish. Really! Where were the wives, children and many others? Jesus really fed about 30,000 people. Hello!
Now, Scotty, beam us over to today‘s story in Capernaum. Jesus entered into dialogue with the people at their lever. “Rabbi, when did you get here?” Jesus told them, “Do not work for food that perishes but for the food that endures for eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you.”
A little later they wanted another sign to prove his authenticity. They mentioned Moses giving their ancestors bread from heaven. Jesus elevated their thinking by saying, 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.”
The people then asked, “Sir, give us this bread always.” Now the shocker, which even the majority of Catholics don’t understand: Jesus responded, “I am the bread of life,” whoever comes to Me will never hunger, and whoever believes in Me will never thirst.” Jesus is speaking of spiritual food.
Give God a little time
Does Jesus’ response shock you? It should. This is another one of St. John’s wonderful “I AM” statements. If we understand this, we will not be running out of Mass so quickly to get caught up in worldly things. Give God a little time, and thank him for all his gifts, especially Jesus in the Holy Eucharist.
The more we wrap our minds around this sentence of Jesus and the other four times Jesus says in this chapter, we would “run” to more daily Masses to have breakfast praising and worshiping Jesus. “O come let us adore him, Christ the Lord.”
As we receive more of this bread of life, it fills us with more knowledge of Jesus and we begin to glow more and more with his glorious light and joy. Try it; you’ll love it. As your excitement increases, you will bring others with you to receive this daily miracle.
Have a joyful week,
(© 2018 Fr. Bob Hilz, TOR)
