Acts 6:8-15
John 6:22-26
Why was the crowds looking for Jesus? What could be that thing that made such a great multitude of people to be searching for Jesus? In fact, the people looking for Jesus in today’s gospel were still wondering how Jesus got to the other side of the sea without entering the boat with the disciples. They wanted food to fill their bellies. They think that all there is to life is food. They wanted Jesus to make their lives easier and better. , They don’t need to go to the market anymore just a couple of prayers from Jesus and everything is done.
Man does not live on bread alone but on every Word of God. Jesus needed to teach them that there is more to life than food.And so, He confronts them and challenges them and us too on our motive of following him. Are you searching for right thing or the wrong thing? Are you following Jesus because of human satisfaction instead of satisfying the heart of God? Are we seeking worldly pleasures rather than to please the heart of our Heavenly Father?
In today’s first reading, the Sanhedrin looked intently at this angelic face of Stephen , but blinded by their hatred of this new and seemingly heretical sect they could not accept the truth. These men, like the crowds in our Gospel passage, could not accept or even see the signs Jesus had wrought in their midst. These signs, of course, pointed to Him who is the Way, the Truth, and the Life.
Jesus knows the hearts of men. Jesus is the Word Incarnate. The living bread from heaven. He is the food that does not perish and He is the food that gives eternal life. We oftentimes take Him for granted for the reason that we don’t go to Holy Mass often and not being serious in our relationship with Him.
Whatever we do today, let us do it with the mind of Christ. We must always remember, those great wonders and signs are God’s, not ours, and they will manifest His Presence in ways you and I can never imagine. What do you want from God? Or do you want God Himself? Do you want the Maker or the ready-made? With Christ, everything is ours to gain, we will not lose anything once we have decided to go to Jesus.
Fr Joseph Osho
