FRIDAY, August 20 (Bernard)

John 6:27-40. Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.”

In one of the most profound yet simply stated sayings of the whole of the New Testament, Jesus says, “I am the bread of life.” A few paragraphs cannot come close to interpreting the many facets of this famous verse. It is at the same time eucharistic, a metaphor about faith, and a program for living in the present, but with implications for eternal life.

In the eucharist we symbolically partake of bread, the most basic food there is, thus indicating all sustenance, which is created by God who is the source of all sustenance. As a faith statement, we “come to” him and “believe in” him, thus satisfying our wanderlust for the truth and our search for someone to trust.

The promise of life is contained in this simple statement, but it is not merely plain living that is meant, but the abundant life (John 10:10). When this gospel mentions “life,” it usually means this life and the life to come as one continuum. And so it is here. He will give us life, sustain our life, stretch our life, so that nothing shall be lost. He promises to do this now. He will do this by raising us up to be with him at the appropriate day. (1981)

PRAY for the Diocese of Gahini (Rwanda)

Ps 140, 142 * 141, 143:1-11(12); Job 2:1-13; Acts 9:1-9

View the daily Lectionary Readings at Satucket.com.
Or view the Bible passages at Biblegateway.com.

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