Breads

Today’s Gospel Text:  Jesus said to them, "I am the bread of life; he who comes to me shall not hunger, and he who believes in me shall never thirst. 36 But I said to you that you have seen me and yet do not believe. 37 All that the Father gives me will come to me; and him who comes to me I will not cast out. 38 For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will, but the will of him who sent me; 39 and this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up at the last day. 40 For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in him should have eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day." John 6:35-40

Reflection: I am often fascinated by the types of bread that are available in the market place.

There could be plain bread or sliced loaf or designed bread or spiced up breads or sweetened bread or diet bread or hand bread or bread made from flours of various grains or bread that are specifically fortified with vitamins or there are the many stuffed varieties, etc., etc.,

It is the basic ingredient of every meal and no meal seems complete without bread. 

In the gospel passage we have Jesus positioning himself as the Bread of Life.

But isn’t it the quality of all breads to give life; for we can’t survive without eating and eat we must in order to survive.  

Hence the bread winner is such an important member of the family that apart from him the dependents would almost be on the streets begging for their daily food.

True, it is the quality of bread to give life but when Jesus claims that he is the Bread of Life, he is claiming life and life and even life eternal, which any bread of this world cannot and never can provide except Jesus.

One of the qualities of this bread that Jesus will give is that we will not hunger for eternal life anymore, not because it will quench our desire for it; a desire in every human heart, but instead it will satisfy this desire for the eternal life.

Each one who has found it will assert in their hearts that they have found the source of eternal life and shall eat and be satisfied.

Whereas, while Adam ate of the fruit for the same purpose, so as too desire the eternity of God but Jesus gives of himself on the tree of life (cross) so that we may live in the very life of God eternal.

Prayer:  Let thy hand be upon the man of thy right hand, the son of man whom thou hast made strong for thyself! Then we will never turn back from thee; give us life, and we will call on thy name! Restore us, O Lord God of hosts! Let thy face shine, that we may be saved! Ps 80:17-19

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Life and Wisdom

Today’s Gospel Text:  When the crowds were increasing, he began to say, "This generation is an evil generation; it seeks a sign, but no sign shall be given to it except the sign of Jonah. 30 For as Jonah became a sign to the men of Nin'eveh, so will the Son of man be to this generation. 31 The queen of the South will arise at the judgment with the men of this generation and condemn them; for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and behold, something greater than Solomon is here. 32 The men of Nin'eveh will arise at the judgment with this generation and condemn it; for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and behold, something greater than Jonah is here. Luke 11:29-32

Reflection: It is in our nature to seek wisdom and learn from the wise sayings of people. 

What is so special about wisdom that people seek it or even if they don’t seek it diligently are at least appreciative of it when they come across wise sayings or what they think are words of wisdom? 

In order to understand that we need to know what wisdom is all about?

Is it not saying the right thing at the right time? Or better still, is it not doing the right thing at the right time? In other words, it means performing the right action at the right time; an action that supports life and spreads life.

Yet wisdom is justified by her deeds." Matt 11:19

If this is how we understand the meaning of the word wisdom then it is but natural and in our human nature to seek wisdom. The very nature of the mind that seeks survival and happiness desires wisdom.

  

Ultimately, it has everything to do with life and promoting life. If our actions does not promote life then it is not wise action in the sight of God. 

But who will judge what is it that promotes life and what is that destroys life? What is many a times immediate gain for life is in the long run detrimental for life.

The fact that all our wise actions ultimately lead us to death should be an indication to us that we cannot be  crucibles of wisdom. What is more,  people may end up in greater misery after an immediate gain.

No wonder Jesus reserves such strong words against the people for rejecting him who came as the author and source of life (Jn. 10:10)

His words are spirit and they are life, his actions only brought healing to life and deliverance from the enemy of life and he ultimately died on  the cross breathing forth life for all who would believe in him. 

Prayer: Jesus source of all wisdom, as I come before you with my sinful and miserable self, moving towards the decay of death, breathe your life in me.

DD = Dedicated Discipleship:  Come grow in the Lord with us