Jesus: Bread of Life

Today’s Gospel Text: The Jews then murmured at him, because he said, "I am the bread which came down from heaven." 42 They said, "Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How does he now say, 'I have come down from heaven'?" 43 Jesus answered them, "Do not murmur among yourselves. 44 No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day. 45 It is written in the prophets, 'And they shall all be taught by God.' Every one who has heard and learned from the Father comes to me. 46 Not that any one has seen the Father except him who is from God; he has seen the Father. 47 Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes has eternal life. 48 I am the bread of life. 49 Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died. 50 This is the bread which comes down from heaven, that a man may eat of it and not die. 51 I am the living bread which came down from heaven; if any one eats of this bread, he will live for ever; and the bread which I shall give for the life of the world is my flesh." John 6:41-51

Reflection:  Either the Jews caught the message of Jesus by the tail or they got it right and said exactly what they wanted to say.

It did not matter to them much whether Jesus was the bread that came down from heaven. What mattered was that he lay claim to his having come down from heaven. 

It was like saying that the bread element we discuss later, lets discuss your antecedents first, whether you have really come down from heaven or you belong to your parents who are over here in our midst.

We all are capable of listening to a message with a block in our hearts, just as the Jews did. They were more interested in cornering him rather than listen to the key message he was communicating to them.

When Jesus  announced himself as the bread that came down from heaven he was proclaiming to them, the life,  he came to give them,

May be we could put up a block while listening to people, for not all are worth listening to and more so when they come to us with wisdom other than from the one true God.

But it would be a great folly, not to listen to Jesus, who first of all has proved himself by his death on the cross. Here in the gospel he comes to them and teaches them from their own scripture and tradition in order to lead them to the truth. 

Scripture interpreted in the light of a sound tradition is sure way of knowing and following the truth.

The miracle of the manna had always captivated the imagination of the Jews. They always believed and at least, at each Passover, reminded themselves of the providence of God.

Jesus by announcing himself as the bread of life was now proclaiming himself as the ultimate and final providence of God for the life of the world.

Prayer: Give us this day our daily bread; the bread of our Salvation, Jesus Christ and all that he has to offer..  

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