The Holy Priest-Martyr Januarius and Those with Him (305-11); the Holy Martyr Theodore of Pergia (138-61)
Acts 8:18-25; John 6:35-39
Read John 6:35-39
Christ is risen! Truly, He is risen!
I am the bread of life; he who comes to me shall not hunger, and he who believes in me shall never thirst.
Did you know that this is the first of seven “I am” statements in John’s Gospel that Jesus makes? In each of these statements, Jesus reveals different aspects of who He is and His work of salvation. As we make our way through this Gospel in the weeks and months ahead, see if you can find the other six. This particular “I am” statement reveals that Jesus is the gift of the Father who gives us food and drink that will sustain us in such a way that we will never hunger nor thirst again. Indeed, He is that food that leads to eternal life for those who are led to Him by the Father and who believe in Him.
In the book of Isaiah, the Lord promises that as He brings people toward end-time salvation they will never know hunger nor thirst again (see Isaiah 48:21 and 49:10). Again, the Lord states: “Hearken diligently to me, and eat what is good… Incline your ear, and come to me; hear, that your soul may live” (Isaiah 55:2-3). Feeding on God’s wisdom and law means hearing it, taking it in, ruminating on it, and allowing it to transform our lives. Jesus identifies Himself as the very wisdom and law of God. Indeed, He is more than even the manna that God rained down upon the earth for Israel to give them their daily sustenance. His disciples are beginning to realise this. Be attentive to how our Lord develops this as we hear from John’s Gospel over these next few days. These are the foundations for our understanding of the Eucharist – He whom we receive in Holy Communion.