Jesus said to the crowds, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me will never hunger, and whoever believes in me will never thirst.” This is the first verse in today’s gospel, but it was also the last verse in yesterday’s gospel. (Jn 6:35) It is beautiful, important and worth repeating a second time. Maybe it is a good thing that we have a chance to think about this verse again, in today’s gospel.
Jesus isn’t talking about our physical hunger and thirst in this sentence. All human beings are born with a deeper need, a hunger, a thirst, a longing for God that nothing else in life can seem to fill. King David experienced this same thirst and wrote about it in Psalm 42: 2-3a:
“As the deer longs for streams of water, so my soul longs for you, O God. My being thirsts for God, the living God.”
Saint Augustine expressed this thirst for God in another way:
“You have made us for yourself, O Lord, and our heart is restless until it rests in you.”
Until we find this hidden treasure within, we will never be satisfied. There will always be something missing in our lives. Remember when Jesus said that the kingdom of God is within us? This is what he was talking about. Saint Teresa of Avila also referred to this treasure, as an “interior castle”.
Jesus Christ is the living bread that we receive in communion each week, in an personal way, consuming his flesh which is joined with our own flesh, in the center of our being. Perhaps you have felt this deep, inner need for Jesus be satisfied, after you receive him in communion at mass? A deep down feeling of peace and healing that nothing else in this world can satisfy? Jesus is who we instinctively hunger and thirst for, and he knew this.
Jesus also gave us his blood to drink at mass, and we should never pass up an opportunity to do so, if we have a choice. After drinking the blood of Christ from the chalice during communion at mass, do you ever feel the warmth of his love sink deeply into your soul, as you pause for a few moments of silence afterwards in your pew? This is a way of experiencing Christ’s love for us more profoundly, to be savored in a different way from the Eucharist we have already received. It is a warmth that can permeate your entire being, if given the chance.
People try to fill this craving for God in so many unhealthy ways though, like drug, alcohol and food addictions, shopping, gambling, workaholics, relationship addictions, etc. People who do these things are living on the surface of life, and barely scratching the surface at that. The deep richness of our faith is not easily reached. The pleasures of this life are more like a band-aid. Jesus is the healing salve for our souls. But, to find this out for yourself takes a lot of quality time in prayer on a regular basis, in addition to receiving communion and going to confession.
Jesus said, “Everything that the Father gives me will come to me, and I will not reject anyone who comes to me, because I came down from heaven not to do my own will but the will of the one who sent me.” This craving for God can not be satisfied in a physical way, except through His son, Jesus Christ. God manifested Himself in a burning bush, a pillar of fire and clouds of smoke, but His son Jesus came to earth as a flesh and blood person like us. God sent him to us, not just for the forgiveness of our sins, but also so we could relate to Him, more like a loving person instead of a strict judge.
The entire gospel is just beautiful. Jesus said:
“And this is the will of the one who sent me, that I should not lose anything of what he gave me, that I should raise it on the last day. For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in him may have eternal life, and I shall raise him on the last day.”
Jesus will keep his promise to raise us on the last day, because his Father also kept His promise to mankind, by sending His son to us. God loves us deeply and so does Jesus. We do not need to be afraid of the future, because Jesus himself journeys with us, every step of the way. We will not lose our way to heaven if we continue to trust in the Lord Jesus, to lead us home.
Prayer for Holy Communion:
Jesus,
My God and my all,
my soul longs for You.
My heart yearns to receive You
in Holy Communion.
Come, Bread of Heaven,
and Food of the Angels,
to nourish my soul
and rejoice my heart.
Come, most lovable
Friend of my soul,
to inflame me with such love
that I may never again
be separated from You.
Amen.
Daily Mass Readings:
Acts: 8: 1b-8 / Psalm 66: 1-3a, 4-7a / John 6: 35-40
