Readings: 1 Kgs. 19:4-8; Eph. 4:30-5:2; Jn. 6:41-51
Whoever eats the Bread
will live forever
Imagine being told that someone in the nearby city guarantees freedom from pain, sickness, and death and assures you eternal life. Imagine many people, including yourself, rushing to that city to meet that person with great expectations because you want to live forever. When you finally see the person, you discover that you know him, are close to his family, and even go to the same school as his brothers and sisters. You knew the parents well before they relocated. You always saw him working with his father in their family business. This is not just a stranger making grand promises but someone you know intimately. So, this is the man who promises the whole world eternal life? He told people that God sent him and that God was his father. You would be right to assume that he had a mental problem; he is delusional and needs a psychiatric evaluation. You would not want to have anything to do with that man.
That was precisely how some Jews felt about Jesus. They knew him. “Is this not Jesus, the son of Joseph? Do we not know his father and mother? Then how can he say, ‘I have come down from heaven’?’” (Jn. 6:42). Jesus had to constantly establish his identity to win the approval of his people. “He came to his native place and taught the people in their synagogue. They were astonished and said, “Where did this man get such wisdom and mighty deeds? Is he not the carpenter’s son? Is not his mother named Mary and his brothers James, Joseph, Simon, and Judas? Are not his sisters all with us? Where did this man get all this? And they took offense at him.” (Mat. 13:54-57). Jesus’ language was strange and difficult for them to understand. His way of life was different. His message was mercy, love, forgiveness, and compassion. They got stuck in the ‘here and now’ and missed out on the ‘hereafter.’ Little wonder they murmured about Jesus because he said, “I am the bread that came down from heaven.” (Jn. 6:41).
If we dwell on the credentials and experiential knowledge of Jesus and his origin, we miss the essential truth about his teaching. It is an act of faith to believe in the one who sent him: “No one can come to me unless the father, who sent me, draws him, and I will raise him on the last day.” ‘Look beyond the bread you eat and the wine you drink to see the Savior and your Lord, and his love poured out as blood.’ God gave his Son as bread for the salvation of the world. Jesus affirms this when he says, “I am the living bread that came down from heaven; whoever eats this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give is my flesh for the life of the world.”
In the first reading, Elijah, who was hungry, tired, and depressed, had had enough: “Take my life, for I am no better than my fathers.” In his moment of vulnerability, God showed up and commanded him to “Get up and eat, else the journey will be too long for you!” After eating the food of the angel, Elijah was nourished and strengthened, his energy was restored, his depression lifted, and his faith in God renewed. He was strong again to face the trials of life. He had a reason to live again. With zeal and zest for life, he could now walk 40 days and 40 nights to meet the Lord. The new song in his heart could as well be: ‘Because you live, I can see tomorrow.’ God was carrying him on an eagle’s wings. If we have faith in God and Jesus Christ, his Son, we will want for nothing. Christ assures us, I am the bread of life; whoever eats the bread will live forever, for my body is real food and my blood is real drink; whoever eats this bread will live forever, and I will raise him on the last day. God always provides for his people when they least expect him. He gave them manna from heaven and water from the rock and brought them to the promised land. As the Lord fed Elijah, so does he feed and nourish us with food for our journey. Jesus, the bread of life, will sustain us on our earthly journey till we meet him in the new Jerusalem.
As a community of God’s people, we are fed by his body and blood. This food will nourish and change us into a people of God. His body and blood will prevent sin and make us humble and honest. Hence, St. Paul admonishes us to let our lives be compatible with our participation in the body of Christ. He urges us to live in peace with one another. Therefore, “All bitterness, fury, anger, shouting, and reviling must be removed from you, along with all malice. And be kind to one another, compassionate, forgiving one another as God has forgiven you in Christ.” We must satisfy the hunger of one another for truth, justice, and peace. We must provide a meal of brotherhood and companionship to others needing comfort, love, and mercy. Let us create a fraternal community where all are called to build the kingdom of God on earth. May we be renewed on our pilgrim journey to our everlasting kingdom with God. Amen.
Rev. Augustine
Etemma Inwang, MSP.
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