18th Sunday in Ordinary Time
August 3, 2003
Reading I: Exodus 16:2-4,12-15 II: Ephesians 4:17,20-24
Gospel
John 6:24:35

24 So when the people saw that Jesus was not there, nor his disciples, they themselves got into the boats and went to Caper'na-um, seeking Jesus.
25 When they found him on the other side of the sea, they said to him, "Rabbi, when did you come here?"
26 Jesus answered them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, you seek me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves.
27 Do not labor for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to eternal life, which the Son of man will give to you; for on him has God the Father set his seal."
28 Then they said to him, "What must we do, to be doing the works of God?"
29 Jesus answered them, "This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent."
30 So they said to him, "Then what sign do you do, that we may see, and believe you? What work do you perform?
31 Our fathers ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written, 'He gave them bread from heaven to eat.'"
32 Jesus then said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, it was not Moses who gave you the bread from heaven; my Father gives you the true bread from heaven.
33 For the bread of God is that which comes down from heaven, and gives life to the world."
34 They said to him, "Lord, give us this bread always."
35 Jesus said to them, "I am the bread of life; he who comes to me shall not hunger, and he who believes in me shall never thirst.


Interesting Details
One Main Point

Jesus uses physical food to teach spiritual truths, that He himself is spiritual nourishment, not only by His body but in His teaching and in His life.


Reflections
  1. The crowds aren't really listening to Jesus. What does that say about me and about the way I read Scripture?
  2. Was there a time when I "hungered" for Christ?
  3. Does this Gospel passage challenge my present way of living?

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    A synthesis by the Vietnamese Christian Life (Dong Hanh) Community

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