WHAT DO YOU SEEK FROM GOD? . (Homily for April 11, 2016. Monday of the third week of Easter.)


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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