Jesus, The Bread of Life


JESUS, THE BREAD OF LIFE
-         Cl. Mario D’Couto SDB

            St. John, in his Gospel explains the incident of the multiplication of the 5 loaves and 2 fish in Chapter 6. Apparently, many people who came to hear Jesus thought he was crazy since they thought he was promoting cannibalism. But it was far from it. Unlike the time when the Israelites were fed up with manna in the desert, which was to satisfy their hunger, the Body and Blood of Christ had a deeper meaning. It meant listening and keeping His word. True, indeed, there is no doubt that we do receive the Holy Eucharist at Holy Communion. But this would be futile if we did not live our lives in accordance with what Jesus taught us, just as it is written in the first letter of St. John that whoever hears the Word of God and does not keep it in his or her heart, then, he or she is a liar. This is clear from what Jesus said to the people in St. John’s Gospel, “Amen, amen, I say to you, you are looking for Me not because you saw signs but because you ate the loaves and were filled. Do not work for food that perishes but work for the food that endures for eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you”. (John 6:26-27)
            Another striking thing about this incident in the life of Jesus is that He stood His ground no matter what; He did not compromise on His teaching.
            All in all, just as ordinary bread sustains our natural life, Jesus is the Bread of Life that sustains our eternal life. It is for this reason that the Catholic Church for 20 centuries has never ceased to have the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass as its central liturgical act. 

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