Daily Scripture Reflection & Prayer: April 16, 2024

Date:   Tuesday of the 3rd Week of Easter

Scripture Text:  John 6:30-35

The crowd said to Jesus: "What sign can you do, that we may see and believe in you? What can you do? Our ancestors ate manna in the desert, as it is written:

He gave them bread from heaven to eat."

So, Jesus said to them, "Amen, amen, I say to you, it was not Moses 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 heaven and gives life to the world."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."

Breaking the text open – background and summary:

Today’s gospel reading continues our look into Jesus’ “Bread of Life Discourse” as recounted in the Gospel of John. We recall that in yesterday’s text, Jesus challenged those who had come searching for Him after the feeding of the multitude to come to Him, recognizing that He is the Messiah sent from the Father and not just because of temporal desires, not just for more bread. Today’s text shows the crowd insisting upon another sign, beyond the one He’d already performed in their presence – feeding over 5000 with only five loaves and two fish.

Jesus responds to their insistence for a sign as magnificent as the manna sent from heaven during the exodus by reminding them that it was not Moses who fed them but the Heavenly Father. Then Jesus tells them that “the bread of God…gives life to the world.” They demand such bread from Jesus who surprises them by telling them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me will never hunger, and whoever believes in me will never thirst."

Meditating on the text with personal questions:

Do I seek Jesus in my need? Do I accept that Jesus is Son of God? Do I believe truly that Jesus can sustain me?

Praying:

LORD, Almighty Father, through your beloved and only-begotten Son, Jesus Christ, You revealed your great and abiding love for us. Send your Spirit to strengthen our faith, to increase our hope, and to deepen and intensify our love as we seek to follow Him. Grant that we may grow into the disciples He calls us to be, the daughters and sons You created us to be, one loving choice at a time. We ask this in the name of your Son, Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with You and the Spirit, one LORD, forever and ever amen.