Scripture: Acts 6:8-15. Psalm 119. John 6:22-29

Chapter six of John centers on the Bread of Life theme. Today we are being
led by the narrative toward the two discourses on the Eucharist as the
Bread of Life--eternal life. This complements the Baptismal theme of the
first two weeks after Easter with the gift of the Eucharist as a eternal
life-giving sacrament. The incident leading up to the discourses is the
scripture we are reflecting upon. Jesus has left the crowd and the
disciples, but they search for him and find him near Capernaum, the home of
Peter. Like the crowd we are searching for Jesus and do find him. He is
teaching us about higher things than the material sign of the
multiplication of the loaves and the fishes. We will be led to appreciate
the discourses by seeing this scene as a transitional one. Aren't
transitions in our own lives a time for growth and development? So we can
easily enter into the event and listen to Jesus as he prepares us for the
Bread of Life which is his own self-giving of his Body and Blood in a
sacramental manner. We are being called to deepen our trust in Jesus and to
listen for a wisdom instruction on what exactly he means by the Bread of
Life. Signs are meant to point out something ahead. Sacramental signs are
even more profound since they involve symbolic language, gestures, and
material elements. They speak to the whole human person; sacraments are
not meant for angels. St. Thomas gave us that phrase: "Sacramenta sunt
propter homines non propter angelos." The first discourse on the theme of
the Bread of Life is presented in Wisdom language from Jesus' mouth. He
will show himself to be a new Moses as he explains the meaning of the
Exodus in the light of his manna from above, namely, his being sent by God
for the salvation of all the world. This discourse is found in chapter
6:35-50. The second discourse is extremely realistic in its language and
definitely is John's way of talking about the institution of the Last
Supper and the distributing of the bread and wine which are real and
symbolic for his precious body and blood. Though his own contemporaries
thought of cannabilism and this faulty interpretation continues in the
history of humankind, Jesus is speaking on a spiritual plain as our
transitional scripture for today has told us and prepared us for the
deepest mysteries of his love. The sacramental discourse is found in
chapter 6:51-59. It will lead some of his followers to depart company with
him. It is only John who uses the word "eucharistein" in the
multiplication of the loaves thus already foreshadowing the discourses on
the Sacrament of the Eucharist. "Christ's teaching reveals the Eucharist;
the Eucharist strengthens our receptivity for Christ's teaching." Fr.
Raymond E. Brown, S.S.). Finally, I read this beautiful passage in the
Office of Readings which comes from St. Justin the martyr who wrote this
just within sixty years of what John is narrating: "The apostles, in their
recollections, which are called Gospels, handed down to us what Jesus
commanded them to do. The tell us that he took bread, gave thanks and said,
'Do this in memory of me. This is my body.' In the same way he took the
cup, he gave thanks and said:'This is my blood.' The Lord gave this
commandment to them alone. Ever since then we have constantly reminded one
another of these things. The rich among us help the poor and we are always
united. For all that we receive we praise the Creator of the universe
through his Son Jesus Christ and through the Holy Spirit." (Chapter 66-67:
PG 6, 427-431). Amen.