Jn 6:30-35
They then said, “Show us miraculous signs, that we may see and believe you. What sign do you perform? Our ancestors ate manna in the desert; as Scripture says: They were given bread from heaven to eat.”
Jesus then said to them, “Truly, I say to you, it was not Moses who gave you the bread from heaven. My Father gives you the true bread from heaven. The bread God gives is the One who comes from heaven and gives life to the world.” And they said to him, “Give us this bread always.”
Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall never be hungry, and whoever believes in me shall never be thirsty.
REFLECTION
It would be interesting to undertake a comparative statistical study along the following lines: how many famous entertainers, millionaires, socialites and hedonists have committed suicide during the past ten years? And, in comparison, during the same period of time how many contemplative religious have committed suicide? Judging from newspaper reports, it would seem that a lot of people of the first category commit suicide and that practically no one of the second category does. Why is that so?
The answer to this question is found in today’s gospel reading. There we hear Jesus declare about himself: “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall never be hungry, and whoever believes in me shall never be thirsty.”
We are made for the Infinite, for God. Only God can make us happy. Countless people have testified to this truth throughout the ages. As Teresa of Avila states: “God alone satisfies.” Everything else leaves us hungry. When will we believe the statistics?
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