Bible Study: Acts 6, 8 to 15 and John
6, 22 to 29.
Today’s readings and especially the Gospel passage call for an
examination of conscience. On Friday last week, we read about how Jesus saw a
huge crowd of about five thousand men and women with just five loaves and two
fish. And on Saturday, Jesus having sent the disciples to cross over to the
other side was alone at prayer when he saw them having trouble on the sea. He not
only calmed the sea, he made the disciples arrive at the shore almost
instantly. Today and throughout this week, we shall continue to read from John
chapter 6, a chapter dedicated to the Holy Eucharist.
In today’s portion, we discover that the people who had eaten
the great meal started looking for Jesus so they jumped into the boats they
could find and crossed over to the other side of the sea in search of him. When
Jesus saw them, he said: “Very truly, I tell you, you are looking for me, not
because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves. Do not work
for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures for eternal life,
which the Son of Man will give you.” John 6, 26 to 27.
Was it a bad idea that the people were looking for Jesus just to
put food on their table once again? Don’t we also seek Jesus for the same
reasons? Don’t we come to church with a whole list of material benefits we
desire to gain by our prayers? Of course, there is nothing wrong in seeking God
for these things.
Like children running to their mother, there is nothing wrong in
asking God to butter our bread after all, Jesus himself said in Matthew 7, 7 to
11: “Ask, and it will be given you; search, and you will find; knock, and the
door will be opened for you. For everyone who asks receives, and everyone who
searches finds, and for everyone who knocks, the door will be opened. Is there
anyone among you who, if your child asks for bread, will give a stone? Or if
the child asks for a fish, will give a snake? If you then, who are evil, know
how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in
heaven give good things to those who ask him!”
However, the problem is seeking after God only for these
material blessings. There is nothing wrong in praying to God to give you money
but there is everything wrong in turning God into some sort of personal ATM
machine! The problem is reducing worship simply to the process of asking only
for material things. Of course God wants to bless us but he is not solely
interested in meeting our physical needs, he wants to also meet our higher
needs; that is, our spiritual needs. He doesn’t just want to put food on our
table, he also wants us to eat his own flesh and flood. He knows that we cannot
survive only with bread but with every word that comes from his mouth.
Dear friends, let us not be like the crowd seeking for Jesus
only because they are hungry for food. Let us know that Jesus has better things
to give us than just physical food. And let us not be disappointed when we do
not get the physical food we so desire because there is something greater than
that which God is already giving to us.
Let us Pray:
Lord Jesus, may I not only seek out your gifts but seek you as
well. Amen.
God bless you. Good morning. Be
Happy. Live Positive. Have Faith. It is well with you. Happy new week
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