The sixth chapter of St. John’s Gospel is a profound teaching on the meaning of the bread of life. The chapter starts off with Jesus’ feeding the 5,000 on a mountain near Bethsaida on the Sea of Galilee. The chapter ends with a lengthy discourse on the great mystery of the real presence of Jesus’ body, blood, and divinity in the Eucharist. Sandwiched in between are several sentences describing the apostle’s journey across the Sea of Galilee and Jesus’ appearance walking across the water. In the context of the beginning and end of this chapter this incident at first seems out of place.
Jesus’s presence
However, we know there are no wasted words in the Gospels! Jesus’s presence with His disciples as they attempt a difficult sea passage appears in all four Gospels. But why here in John? We can be sure it is more than a plot device to move Jesus and the apostles from Bethsaida to Capernaum!
The image of a boat tossed on a stormy sea shows Jesus’ power over nature. The image of a boat at sea is also a symbol of the Church (the Barque of St. Peter) and its struggles in a sinful world. In this case, Jesus is preparing to reveal the central mystery of His mission. He knows that many of His followers will not be able to accept His teaching and will fall away from His ministry. He encourages His apostles – the core of the early Church and His companions in the boat – to believe in His mission despite the skepticism of the world.
New Members
Today’s first reading from Acts shows another practical, rather than theological, aspect in the life of the Church. As the Church grows, it brings in new members from outside of the Jewish community. These new members, the Greeks, are concerned that they are being slighted in the distribution of food. The apostles, guided by prayer and their own human ingenuity devise an equitable arrangement that wins the confidence of all parties.
Us
Today, the members of His Church – that is us, face the same issues. We face skepticism when we attempt to live and teach the truths of our faith in a fallen world. We face strife between factions, even within the Church. Jesus encourages us to be steadfast in His teachings and to be peacemakers among the faithful. He feeds and nourishes us with His own body and blood. He still stands by our storm-tossed boat, leading us to the far shore.
AMEN