Jesus, the bread of life

Readings: 1st: Acts 6:8-15; Ps: 119; Gos John 6: 22-29

This brief reflection was written by Rev. Fr. Njoku Canice Chukwuemeka, C.S.Sp. He is a Catholic Priest and a Member of the Congregation of the Holy Ghost Fathers and Brothers (Spiritans). He is currently working with the Spiritan International Group of Puerto Rico &  Dominican Republic. He is the Administrator of Parroquia La Resurrección del Senor, Canovanas and the Chancellor of the Diocesis of Fajardo-Humacao, Puerto Rico. For more details and comments contact him on: canice_c_njoku@yahoo.com, cancilleriadfh@gmail.com, canicechukwuemeka@gmail.com. 

Today is Monday in the Third week of Easter. In today’s Gospel, we begin the discourse on the Bread of Life. It will continue for the next six days. That is, until the end of this week.

After the multiplication of the loaves, the people saw the miracle. They had eaten, were satiated, and wanted more. So, they followed Christ, not because they were interested in the good news he preached, but in more food to satisfy their physical hunger.

However, they did not understand it as a sign of something more profound. They could not see beyond the physical food, because that was what occupied their minds. Of course, they were physically hungry, and this impeded their vision of the future.

For them all that mattered was that, Christ did what Moses had done in the past, by feeding feed all the people in the desert. So, they wanted the past to be repeated. They wanted to re-live the past without seeing, or advancing in to the future.

So, Christ admonished them that, instead of looking for bread that perishes, they should look for the imperishable food. This imperishable bread is, Christ himself, the Son of Man, sent to us by Father from heaven.

Christ the bread of life, satisfies our spiritual hunger with his word and body. Also, he satisfies our spiritual thirst with own blood. Through these, he gives us life that lasts forever. He opens new horizon for us and gives us a new sense of life.

Alleluia, Alleluia!

Peace be with you all!

Maranatha!