Welcoming the Holy
Here we invite you to take time for yourself in personal prayer. The following spiritual reflection offers words which we hope will evoke for you an experience of God.
By: Sister Melissa Gernon
Opening Prayer
The Lord commanded the skies above and opened the doors of heaven; he rained manna upon them for food and gave them heavenly bread.
Reading
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. When they found him on the other side of the lake, they asked him, “Rabbi, when did you get here?”
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. 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.”
Then they asked him, “What must we do to do the works God requires?” Jesus answered, “The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.”
So they asked him, “What sign then will you give that we may see it and believe you? What will you do? Our ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written: ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’”
Jesus said to them, “Very truly I tell you, it is not Moses who has given you the bread from heaven, but it is my Father who gives you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is the bread that comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.”
“Sir,” they said, “always give us this bread.” Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.
Reflection
This scripture has the followers of Jesus asking some of the questions that trouble their hearts. They know something huge is going on and they yearn to understand. For many followers of Jesus, this curiosity is what spiritual direction is about, bringing their whole selves, including questions, desires, and sins before the God who loves us.
Jesus answers the questions with the metaphor of himself being the bread of life. He states that whoever comes to him will never go hungry and who believes in him, will never go thirsty.
Jesus continually asks us to come as we are with these questions and ponderings. He accepts us as we are and challenges us to continually be open to him and his words. One can only hope that the ponderings and questions we have for Jesus will allow our relationship with Jesus to continue to grow. Always being fed by our relationship with Jesus sounds like a pretty good way to live our spiritual lives.
Closing Prayer
You have given us, Lord, Bread from heaven and endowed us all with delights and sweetness in every taste. Help keep our curiosity present as we seek to believe more and ore of You and savor Your word in our lives. Amen.