Eighteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time Year B 4th August 2024.
Lectionary Readings:
Exodus 16 v2-4, 9-15; Psalm 78 v23-29; Ephesians 4 v1-16; John 6 v24-35.
God’s response to our hunger.
The people complain to Moses, their leader (and God’s representative), that they have been rescued from slavery in Egypt, only to starve in the desert. Moses consults with God. God provides bread and quails! (Exodus 16).
As the psalmist recalls, God gave his people all they wanted, and each of them ate until they were full. (Psalm 78 v29).
The gospel writer John, weaves this foundational Jewish story of God’s love and care of his people, into his understanding of the significance of Jesus, not only for the Jews, but the whole world.
Jesus said, “I tell you for certain that Moses wasn’t the one who gave you bread from heaven. My Father is the one who gives you the true bread from heaven. And the bread that God gives is the one who came down from heaven to give life to the world.” (John 6 v32, 33)
The people said, “Lord, give us this bread and don’t ever stop!” (v34)
Jesus replied: “I am the bread that gives life! No one who comes to me will ever be hungry. No one who has faith in me will ever be thirsty.” (v35).
John tells us that the people’s response was to grumble! To argue that Jesus was a human being like them. How could he say he has ‘come down’ from heaven?
Jesus told them: “Stop grumbling!” (v43) “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me makes them want to come.” (v44a)
“One of the prophets wrote, “God will teach all of them” And so everyone who listens to the Father and learns from him will come to me.” (v45). (quoting Isaiah 54 v13)
The apostle Paul is certain that Jesus was telling us the truth about how God provides for our deepest need. Paul argues that if we are to be reconciled with God, we need to heed the teachings of Jesus and accept God’s guidance for our lives via his indwelling Spirit.
Paul says, “Try your best to let God’s Spirit keep your hearts united. Do this by living at peace.” (Ephesians 4 v3).
“There is only one God who is the Father of all people. Not only is God above all others, but he works by using all of us, and he lives in all of us. (v6).
Paul goes on to argue that “Christ holds the body (the community of believers) together and makes all its parts work perfectly, as it grows and becomes strong because of love.” (v16).
For Paul and also for us today, love is the key to a life united with Jesus and God.
As we dine at your table, we thank you Father for sending us the ‘true bread’ to satisfy our real hunger.
Bible quotations are taken from the contemporary English Version.