Homily for August 5, 2018.
_“Truly, truly, I say to you, you seek me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves. Do not labour for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to eternal life,” *(John 6:26-27)*_
If you recall, last Sunday, we read about how Jesus fed the multitude with just five loaves and two fishes. In that episode, we learnt about the deep seated compassion of Jesus for us his followers and His willingness to go to any extent to provide our needs. We also learnt about the power of thanksgiving, the miracle of sharing even the little, as well as the need to avoid waste. We are told that Jesus ordered them to gather the crumbs leftover.
Towards the end of last Sunday’s Gospel passage, we are told that something funny happened. The people after eating were so pleased with what Jesus had done that they decided to make Jesus a king but to their surprise, Jesus was nowhere to be found. John told us that Jesus withdrew from them, he went to hide in a mountain all by himself. The people did not give up. They didn’t go home that night but remained in the camp ground. This is where today’s Gospel passage picks up.
In the morning of that next day, the people who remained after eating the loaves noticed that the disciples had gone over to the other side but Jesus did not enter the boat with them. (Actually, that night, Jesus walked on water to his disciples who were almost giving up hope at sea.) The first thing the crowd did that morning was to search thoroughly for Jesus and when they did not find him, they quickly took the boats that had come from Tiberias and headed for Capernaum.
If you recall, these were the same crowd of people who had come on foot to wait for Jesus. Jesus was not even planning to host them, he just wanted his disciples to rest after they had gone out on mission. Now the same people had loaded themselves into boats and were paddling as fast as they could to look for Jesus. Can you imagine the amount of stress these people were willing to put themselves through? They did not sleep in their comfortable beds at home, they slept on mats out in the cold and now they were looking for Jesus. It is like they suddenly forgot about their regular daily activities, all they wanted now was Jesus.
Isn’t this a familiar scenario with Christians in our society today? I mean, these people were eager to see Jesus. Our churches today are packed full. There is no crusade you call for that you wouldn’t have an overflowing crowd. We Nigerians like these people who were fed are no doubt deeply religious. Our love for Jesus is like no other. But guess what? When they eventually found Jesus, He didn’t seem happy to receive them. Why? Jesus read their hearts and could see that their overall aim of looking for him was defective.
Like these crowds, Jesus is not so pleased with us when He sees that the only reason we come to him is to seek for bread, for the material things of this world, for earthly comforts; that dream job, that heart-throb, that business/political connection and so on and so on. Jesus is not pleased with us when we seek after him purely for sake of things which do not even last forever; things which can never satisfy us; things which never seem to be enough; things which are capable of perishing. Jesus said to the crowd as He says to us today: “Do not labour for food which perishes.”
The question now is: Aren’t we Christians labouring for food that perishes? Are we not solely concerned about our material benefits and what this world has to offer today? even when we make offerings in church, sow seeds of faith or give tithes, isn’t it because we are expecting to get back our offerings and money in double, triple or tenfold? Aren’t we simply going to church so that God may supply our needs according to His riches in glory? Or so that God may end poverty and suffering in our lives?
Of course, it is not the will of God to see any of his children suffer. From the very beginning of creation, God created man and put him in a garden with all kinds of food and went as far as creating woman just to ensure he wasn’t left alone. God cares us no doubt BUT His Care for us is not limited to our physical needs. To the woman of Samaria Jesus met at the well, he said: “Everyone who drinks of this water will thirst again, but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst; the water that I shall give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” John 4:13-14.
The people were obviously looking for Jesus because after eating the previous day, they were now hungry and wanted Jesus to feed them again. They even reminded Jesus how their ancestors were fed with manna which we saw in today’s first reading. But Jesus was not interested in giving them ordinary bread continuously. Jesus was only wetting their appetite for something far greater; the bread of God which comes from heaven and gives life to the world. Without understanding what Jesus meant, they said: “Give us this bread always” just as the Samaritan woman had said: “Sir, give me this water, that I may not thirst, nor come here to draw.” John 4:15.
At this point, they removed their minds from the bread they ate and were now looking forward to a different kind of bread which would quench their hunger forever. That was when Jesus told them: I AM THE BREAD OF LIFE, HE WHO COMES TO ME SHALL NOT HUNGER AND HE WHO BELIEVES IN ME SHALL NEVER THIRST. Dear friends, the simple meaning of this is that Jesus himself is ALL that we really need. As St. Augustine so beautifully puts it: “Our hearts are restless, until they rest in you, O Lord.”
To have Jesus is to have everything. To be in Christ is to live above hunger and thirst. When Jesus becomes our priority, every other material desire becomes weakened. It no longer matters whether or not there is money in your pocket, or whether there is food for tomorrow. Whether with little or with plenty, you are just happy. You no longer complain about anything (like the Israelites did in today’s first reading) because there is this peace of mind that overtakes you knowing that you have a God who is trust-worthy to provide.
You are no longer worried about riding that big car or living in that big mansion, your only care is the things of heaven. The zeal with which you pursue material things reduces because you now know these are just perishable food; passing things, that Jesus is all you need. This is the true state of bliss, a life without material hunger or thirst. This is the state of mind St. Paul was talking about when he said: “Put off your old nature which is corrupt through deceitful lusts and be renewed in the spirit, put on the new nature created in likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.” Ephesians 4:22-24.
Until we Christians stop making money our priorities, until we stop aiming only at attaining material riches, comfort, pleasure and power, until we stop labouring only for perishable food, we cannot avoid our sinful lifestyles and bad habits. Seek first God’s kingdom today. Change your prayers points to heavenly treasures. Put off that old nature with its insatiable desires and lusts. Know that Jesus is the BREAD OF LIFE. Jesus is Life. Jesus is all you need. Jesus alone can satisfy the deepest longings of your heart.
Let us Pray: Lord Jesus, free me from working only for perishables. Amen.
*Be Happy. Live Positive. Have Faith. It is well with you. God bless you. (Eighteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time. Year B. Bible Study: Exodus 16:2-15, Psalm 78:3-54, Ephesians 4:17-24, John 6:24-35).*
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