What do you Seek?

Scripture/Bible:  On the next day the people who remained on the other side of the sea saw that there had been only one boat there, and that Jesus had not entered the boat with his disciples, but that his disciples had gone away alone. 23 However, boats from Tiber'i-as came near the place where they ate the bread after the Lord had given thanks. 24 So when the people saw that Jesus was not there, nor his disciples, they themselves got into the boats and went to Caper'na-um, seeking Jesus. 25 When they found him on the other side of the sea, they said to him, "Rabbi, when did you come here?" 26 Jesus answered them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, you seek me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves. 27 Do not labor for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to eternal life, which the Son of man will give to you; for on him has God the Father set his seal." 28 Then they said to him, "What must we do, to be doing the works of God?" 29 Jesus answered them, "This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent." John 6:22-30

Reflection: We often think we are smart and may score better than the others in a given assignment. Sometimes a group or team working together could end up better than the others. But when a competitor comes and outsmarts us we are all shattered, frustrated and hurt. Instead it could be a good learning experience. 

In the gospel we find the smartness of these people in interpreting the absence of Jesus as something unusual. They knew that the disciples had left him behind in order to reach the other side of the shore, to Capernaum. This is detective work; a single boat on the shore and Jesus not there means that he needs to be sought.

Should there be any doubt about the mystery, of Jesus not being there, as the only reason why they may have sought Jesus? Yet Jesus reveals to them that it is not because of his mysterious absence that they are seeking him but rather on account of the stomach; the loaves multiplied, the food that perishes.  

Many a times the root of most of our seeking is the appetite and the same lust we apply to God; good job, good business, good memory, good spouse, good clothes, pseudo-spirituality.  Even when we seek for others, whether it be a kingdom of justice, peace and brotherhood or human emancipation, we seek that which satisfies the same appetite.

Therefore St. Paul says; “Their end is destruction, their god is the belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things.” Phil 3:19

Yes, we tend to seek God too for this same reason while God seeks us in order to save us from destruction and lead us to eternal happiness.   

Prayer: “Thou hast said, "Seek ye my face." My heart says to thee, "Thy face, Lord, do I seek." Ps 27:8

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