Do not work for food that perishes.

Do not work for food that perishes.

For the next few Sundays, we will be hearing from the 6th Chapter of the Gospel of John, which is often called the Bread of Life discourse.  In it, Jesus talks in no uncertain terms about the Eucharist, which He will later establish at the Last Supper.

For those of us who discovered for the first time, or “rediscovered” the truth about the Eucharist at some point in our lives, this part of John’s Gospel was probably quoted to us – or by us to others – to “prove” that the Eucharist is not merely a symbol, but is the sacrament of Jesus’ abiding presence with us today in a special way.

But the Bread of Life discourse is much more than just an apologetic “proof text”.  The point is not just to “prove” what the Eucharist is, but to help us understand the implications that the Eucharist has on our lives and the way we live.  In today’s Gospel, it’s only at the very end Jesus first says that He is the Bread of Life.  Leading up to this moment, preparing them to hear what He wants to say to them about the Eucharist, is a recognition and a challenge:

“Very truly, I tell you, you are looking for me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves.  Do not work for food that perishes, but for the food that endures for eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you.”

What Jesus is proposing and at the same time challenging, are two ways of living.  The first way, which Jesus is challenging, is living for what we want – “the food that perishes”.  This is the way most of us live our lives, and even our practice of our faith can fall into this same tendency, seeing our faith as part of getting whatever it is we happen to want.  In the end, this way of living is all about *me*.

The second way, which Jesus is proposing, is living for what we truly need – “the food that endures for eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you.”  This does not exclude seeking the basic necessities of life, or even good but unnecessary things – but it is done in the context of one’s own relationship with Jesus, and all these things are seen not as possessions to be secured, but gifts “which the Son of Man will give you.”  This way of living our lives is different, because it’s not all about me, but us – God, me, and the rest of the Church, humanity, and creation. 

Just as sometimes there are people who you talk to – but aren’t really listening to you, sometimes there are people who receive the Eucharist but do not experience Jesus’ promise that “Whoever comes to me will never be hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.”  And perhaps the reason is that the change in our way of living that Jesus is proposing, has not really taken root yet – and we are still hungering and thirsting only for what we want, instead of only for what we truly need.

What do you hunger and thirst for?  Has this change from “me” to “us” begun to take root in your life yet?  A genuine vocation from God is always in some way a service to the community of disciples, the Church.  As long as we pursue our vocation in a self-serving way, we will never be satisfied.  But if we come to God and open up the question in light of our relationship with God, ourselves, and the wider community, our hunger and thirst will be satisfied in a lasting way.