Day 34: Bread of Life

 

John 6:31-35

Our ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written: “He gave them bread from heaven to eat.”

Jesus said to them, “Very truly I tell you, it is not Moses who has given you the bread from heaven, but it is my Father who gives you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is the bread that comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.”

“Sir,” they said, “always give us this bread.”

Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.”

Comments

There is bread that nourishes our bodies, and bread that feeds our souls, our lives. Neither is enough by itself, a truth emphasized by Jesus when he said he would not turn stones into bread to feed himself: “Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.”

Reflections

To figure out if someone is hungry, you simply ask if they would like something to eat. Can you figure out the same way if someone is spiritually hungry?

Do you find it easier to focus on someone’s physical hunger by offering them food than to address their spiritual hunger by offering something to feed their soul?

When you show hospitality, do you give thought to what your guests like to eat? Do you show the same concern when offering spiritual food or do you just give people what you’ve decided they need?

Prayer

Fill me with discernment and compassion, Lord, for those in whom hunger comes in many forms.