Reading
John 6:22-29
22 The next day the crowd that had stayed on the opposite shore of the lake realized that only one boat had been there, and that Jesus had not entered it with his disciples, but that they had gone away alone. 23 Then some boats from Tiberias landed near the place where the people had eaten the bread after the Lord had given thanks. 24 Once the crowd realized that neither Jesus nor his disciples were there, they got into the boats and went to Capernaum in search of Jesus.
25 When they found him on the other side of the lake, they asked him, “Rabbi, when did you get here?”
26 Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, you are looking for me, not because you saw the signs I performed but because you ate the loaves and had your fill. 27 Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For on him God the Father has placed his seal of approval.”
28 Then they asked him, “What must we do to do the works God requires?”
29 Jesus answered, “The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.”
Comment
After the multiplication of the loaves for the feeding of five thousand people and the desire of the crowd to make him king, Jesus flees to a lonely place on the mountain, and to then passes across the sea, followed by his disciples. The crowds join him shortly after. The passage to the other side of the sea also marks the need for a change of mentality in the crowd. When asked how he got there, Jesus replies "you are looking for me, not because you saw the signs I performed but because you ate the loaves and had your fill" (v. 26). Jesus does not satisfy people's curiosity but corrects the erroneous motivations of his seekers. The crowds still see in him the Messiah to whom they ask for the solution to their material problems.
In the movement of the crowd in search of Jesus we see the representation of our most superficial primary needs. He, who shortly before took care of dispensing bodily nourishment, now pushes us to look at that hunger of the soul which is much more difficult to satisfy, but for which he has made himself living and life-giving bread.
Understanding the authentic reason why we seek Jesus is the first step to freeing ourselves from attachment to that food that does not satiate our body or our ego, to turn to the One who feeds us for eternal life. Not infrequently this perishable food is made up of "spiritual substance": the search for the miraculous prodigy, extraordinary charisms, suggestive private revelations. Jesus calls us back to sobriety, nourishing us with the solid bread of his word and his sacramental gift.
Jesus is the food that nourishes and does not perish like any other food on earth, but to find it we must learn to understand the spiritual meaning of his person and his mission, the seal of which was placed by the Father through the Holy Spirit (v. 27).
The question posed by this episode of John's Gospel is simple and direct: "For what reason do we seek Jesus?" If we simply look for a miracle worker or a dispenser of well-being or the charismatic leader of a revolutionary movement, he will continue to elude us.
The "work of God" which Jesus asks us to do, and which leads man to salvation is faith (v. 28). It presupposes our acceptance of him as the Son of God and the taking up of the Gospel as a rule of life. Faith is the act that precedes every good work, but at the same time also the purpose of proclamation and witness: that all men believe in Christ.
Prayer
Feed us, o Lord, with the solid and sweet bread of your word of life; so that strengthened in faith we may ceaselessly dedicate ourselves to God's work. Amen.
- Rev. Dr. Luca Vona
