JESUS becomes our bread when we believe in Him.
In the past when the Israelites wandered in the desert and lacked everything, God gave them a provisional meal, the manna. They had to give thanks to Him for his gifts. But if God is only our benefactor and we go to Him asking favors, we end up concerned only for what God gives us, we will hardly thank Him, and later will continue to ask and complain.
This is what happened with the Israelites who, after receiving the manna, rebelled against God and died in the desert. Material things, although they may come from heaven, do not make us better nor do they give us true life.
For this reason, God now proposes something new. The bread that comes down from heaven is not something, but someone, and that is Christ. That true bread communicates eternal life to us, but to receive it, it is necessary to take a step further, that is, to believe in Christ and to make a personal commitment to Him.
“All that the Father gives me will come to me”. Not all those who take pride in belonging to the true religion come to Christ, but only those whom the Father knows. Though the Church embraces many people of all descriptions, only those to whom the Father has given this grace will find their way to the controversial and humble Christ. While acknowledging the value of the sacraments and good works we should not forget what Jesus taught: none of our own efforts can substitute for the grace of being chosen by the Father who calls us to know his Son in truth.
They shall all be taught by God (v. 45). Several texts from the prophets showed in what way Jewish religion should transcend itself. God’s covenant celebrated in Mount Sinai had given the laws through which the conscience of God’s people would be educated. There should come new times when God would teach each of his believers as He did the great prophets. Jesus recalls these promises and interprets them. It is not a matter of revelations given to everyone but of a mysterious call that directs us to Jesus. In Jesus, the perfect mirror of God, we discover the will of the Father for us. Jesus is the Word of God and from now on the most authentic revelations can only send us back to him.
This man is the son of Joseph (v. 42). Jesus’ listeners were Jews who believed in God and in the Scriptures. To believe in the prophets who were honored after their death was easy, but to recognize God’s temporary and controversial messengers, especially when the messenger of God was a simple carpenter was another matter.
This is equally true today, for we must overcome doubts and listen to God’s messengers who point out the mission of the Church in today’s world. There are many who believe in the Bible or in Christ but refuse to listen to the Church, especially when it speaks through Christians and religious belonging to the world of the poor and of workers.
As Christians we must believe in Christ who is the Son of God and the Bread of life for us. He has redeemed us from our sins. And we also must be ecumenical and believe that there are other Churches aside from the Catholic Church who have the same belief in Jesus Christ as the Son of God who is the Bread of life for us.
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