27-Apr-20

Gospel JN 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:

[After Jesus had fed the five thousand men, his disciples saw him walking on the sea.]

Although they had all been fed, only his disciples had seen Jesus walk on water. Clearly, He had decided to “feed” His closest followers with more than bread. In allowing them to witness His walking on water, Jesus was giving them “food” that would nourish them for the extraordinary trials that He alone knew they would be facing.

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.

Those who had been left behind had seen the miracle and eaten the bread and fish. They had been given a glimpse of the power of God; now they “came to Capernaum looking for Jesus.”

What did they hope to find? Someone who could miraculously provide for their every physical need?

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.”

Seeing into their hearts Jesus knew that they were not looking for “signs” that He came from God. They were looking for what more He could do for 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.
For on him the Father, God, has set his seal.”

The food that “perishes” is not limited to bread and our material possessions. Perishable gifts come in many forms: the prestige of ministry, basking in the admiration of others, looking for the “pat on the back” that comes from doing good works, etc.

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.”

“The work of God” begins with our believing in Jesus, both His miracles and His message as God’s work.

Through our faith in Jesus, we can overcome our self-centeredness. Like Him, we can be fulfilled by loving our neighbor, feeding the hungry and healing the broken hearted.

“He has told you what is good; and what the Lord requires of you, to do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God.” Micah 6:8