St. Athanasius
John 6:22-29
The next day the crowd that had stayed on the other side of the sea saw that there had been only one boat there. They also saw that Jesus had not got into the boat with his disciples, but that his disciples had gone away alone. Then some boats from Tiberias came near the place where they had eaten the bread after the Lord had given thanks. So when the crowd saw that neither Jesus nor his disciples were there, they themselves got into the boats and went to Capernaum looking for Jesus.
When they found him on the other side of the sea, they said to him, “Rabbi, when did you come here?” Jesus answered them, “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 the food that perishes, but for the food that endures for eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For it is on him that God the Father has set his seal.”
Then they said to him, “What must we do to perform the works of God?” Jesus answered them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.”
New Revised Standard Version, copyright 1989, by the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved. USCCB approved.
What Do I Need to Entrust to Jesus?
Based upon Jesus’ response to the bewildered crowd who comes searching for him, it appears the “work of God” is not something they (or we) can do or perform. The true work of God is a gift to be received from the Son of Man. And that gift is Jesus’ very self. “Food that endures for eternal life” is active, living, dynamic faith in him who is soon to be revealed as the “bread of life.” Faith in Jesus sustains us temporally, but most especially into eternity.
Recently, unimaginable sorrows have been visited upon many places and peoples, from Eastern Europe to the eastern portion of a local university campus. Many are groping about looking for Jesus. For those impacted, it truly is a work of God to remain believing.
What bewildering circumstances do I need to entrust to Jesus?
How am I being called to rely on my gift of faith in him?
—Patricia Feder serves as the administrator of the Office of Ignatian Spirituality for the Jesuits USA Central and Southern Province.
Prayer
Sustaining Lord,
You are the bread of life. Whoever comes to you shall not hunger. Whoever sees you and believes in you will have eternal life. Please grant me the grace of finding you as I search and believing in you as I faithfully entrust my life circumstances to your providential care, so that together we may live eternally, one day at a time.
Amen.
—Patricia Feder