The Gospel today is a follow-up from Last Friday’s gospel of the feeding of the five thousand. The beginning of that passage says that the crowds were looking for Jesus “because they saw the signs he was performing “(Jn. 6:1) In today’s Gospel, Jesus seems to scold the crowds for not looking for him because of the signs they saw, “but because [they] ate the loaves and were filled.” (Jn. 6:26) He tells them, “Do not work for food that perishes but for the food that endures for eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you.” (Jn. 6:27)
Each of the Gospels contains an account of the feeding of the five thousand. Matthew actually has two accounts, one with five thousand and one with four thousand. Each of those accounts contains a verse that says, “They ate and were satisfied.” (Mt. 14:20; Mt. 15:37; Mk. 8:8; Lk. 9:17; Jn. 6:12) Today’s Gospel states, “you ate the loaves and were filled.” However, they all came looking for Jesus because they were hungry again. They needed more. This need wasn’t just physical. They needed more of what Jesus had to offer-physical food, yes, but spiritual food as well.
The Food That Endures for Eternal Life
Jesus didn’t let the people get caught up in just their physical need. He invited them to recognize the deeper spiritual need they had. It is an echo of what he said to the woman at the well when he spoke to her about living water: “Whoever drinks the water I shall give will never thirst; the water I shall give will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” (Jn. 4:14) Jesus did come and satisfy physical needs with miracles, like providing food and healing physical illnesses, but the one thing he purposely came to do, the mission he was sent to us for, was greater than the physical needs we all have.
Jesus’s greatest miracles were of a spiritual nature because they brought people the opportunity of eternal life, not just life on this earth. Jesus forgave sins, cast out demons, and brought us salvation! He invites us to go beyond what we need in this life and work instead for “the food that endures for eternal life,” and he says he will give it to us!
What Can We Do?
The next obvious question is “What can we do?” That is exactly what the people asked the Lord. This has to be our question as well, “What do I need to do to get this opportunity for eternal life?” The answer is so simple, yet perhaps so difficult at the same time: “believe in the one he sent.” (Jn. 6:29)
The essential question for each of us becomes, “Do I believe?” Do I believe enough to let go and give God control of my life? Do I believe enough to hope in heaven and eternal life? And, do I believe that Jesus’s death and resurrection have purchased my salvation? Do I believe that Jesus wants me with him in heaven?
To the question “What can we do?” Jesus answers, “Believe.” May each of us be able to answer like the man whose son needed to be cured of demonic possession, “I do believe. Help my unbelief!” (Mk. 9:24)
