Word to the Wise
Tuesday, April 21, 2015 - 3rd Week of Easter - Tues
[Acts 7:51-8:1a and John 6:30-35]"Amen, amen, I say to you, it was not Mosess who gave the bread from heaven; my Father gives you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is that which comes down from heavenand gives life to the word." So they said to Jesus, "Sir, give us this bread always." Jesus said to them, "I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me will never hunger; and whoever believes in me will never thirst." [John]
Scripture scholars refer to this part of the Gospel of John as the "bread of life" discourse. It is important to keep the setting in mind. It all started with Jesus giving bread to the multitudes in the desert. This serves as a platform for a comparison with Moses and the incident with manna in the desert. [Exodus 16:1-15] But Jesus takes it step further. He reminds his listeners that Moses didn't give the Israelites the manna ["bread from heaven"], but God did. Now God is giving a new "bread from heaven" which is Jesus himself. Jesus uses the important "I AM" words which echo the encounter between Moses and God at the burning bush. [Exodus 3:1-15], but more importantly point to Jesus' own identity, although the listeners could not understand it.
Just this one small part of the bigger picture is very rich with meaning. It might help to read the entire chapter six so that the pieces of it which will serve as the gospel scripture during this week will make more sense. At this point, Jesus reveals himself as the "bread of life." The meaning here is not eucharistic but a matter of faith in him. Indeed we do not approach the eucharist to begin with unless we first believe in Jesus as the one whom God has sent. Later on in the discourse, the meaning will shift, but for now our own faith is challenged and we can ask ourselves what indeed do we believe about Jesus? AMEN