RBWords

     Several days ago I spoke of the pattern in the Gospel of John whereby "Signs" serve as a kind of introduction to "discourses" about Jesus and his mission.  These discourses are also places where further patterns and themes appear.  Today's gospel passage is part of what scripture scholars call the "Bread of Life" discourse, which follows on the multiplication of the loaves and fishes.  In this discourse, however, fish falls off the menu and the emphasis is on the symbol of bread.  There is a "Moses/Jesus" and a "manna/bread of life" comparison.  There is a "misunderstanding" of what "bread" means.  There is an example of "realized eschatology" in which Jesus speaks of the believer as never hungering or thirsting again in this life. There is an I AM statement. All of this and more goes into the drama of this encounter, which will provide the gospel scripture for the next few days.

     Although we will come to the eucharistic implications of this discourse very soon, I want to dwell for a moment on the significance of bread.  It is no wonder that we refer to it as "the staff of life."  It is a fundamental form AND symbol of food in general.  When, as in the case of the culture in which Jesus lived, it is a major part of the diet and not simply a "side" to the meal, the significance is increased.  The impact of the multiplication of the loaves on the crowd can thus be seen in its most superficial way.  Anybody who can feed thousands from several has to be "king!"  Further, in the scene immediately following the multiplication but before the discourse, Jesus confronts the crowd with their misunderstanding by pointing out that they have followed him around the lake because he fed them with bread.  Their misunderstanding includes a misunderstanding of the historic "manna in the desert" in which they give Moses the credit for providing it.  Jesus points out that it wasn't Moses but Jesus' Father who provided that "bread."  In that case it was only for physical hunger.  Jesus offers himself as the "true bread from heaven" sent by the Father "....which gives life to the world."  The crowd still misunderstands (like the Samaritan woman who asks for the eternal water so she doesn't have to keep coming to the well):  "Sir, give us this bread always."  Jesus replies: "I AM the bread of life; whoever comes to me will never hunger, and whoever believes in me will never thirst."  Do we believe this?

     The move from physical and historical and symbolic bread to the person of Jesus is what will demand faith.  We will come to this challenge in the gospel very soon!  AMEN