Faith Daily | 20 April 2021
PRAYER of the DAY - EASTER THREE
Gracious Father,
who in your great mercy made glad the disciples
with the sight of the risen Lord:
give us such awareness of his presence with us
that we may be strengthened and sustained by his risen life,
and serve you continually in righteousness and truth;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen
GOSPEL for the Day: John 6: 30-35
30So they said to him, ‘What sign are you going to give us then, so that we may see it and believe you? What work are you performing? 31Our ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written, “He gave them bread from heaven to eat.” ’ 32Then Jesus said to them, ‘Very truly, I tell you, it was not Moses who gave you the bread from heaven, but it is my Father who gives you the true bread from heaven. 33For the bread of God is that which* comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.’ 34They said to him, ‘Sir, give us this bread always.’
35 Jesus said to them, ‘I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.
GOSPEL Reflection: Contributed by Kathy Allen
Manna from heaven first appears in the Old Testament in Exodus 16 when God instructs Moses to caution the Israelites to gather only as much bread each day as they need. This appears to be a test of the faithfulness of the people to know and understand that God will provide for the body. But what of the soul? In today’s five short verses, Jesus declares that He is the bread of life – that which comes from heaven and keeps the soul alive. Receiving Communion, the Eucharist, is the symbol of that bread of life from God, through his Son to us.
In this Gospel passage, Jesus is once more asked for a sign and He expresses amazing words of comfort. In explaining who He is, He states simply, “I am the bread of life.” This is different from Moses bringing down manna from heaven to nourish his discouraged followers. This brief sentence is the essential and comforting message that offers sustenance for the body and the promise of salvation.
It is equally amazing that Jesus never seems to lose patience but seems to understand that it is only human to worry first about physical needs and comforts. It is also true that we mere mortals pray for and look for signs of God’s love and help when we are sad, tired, ill or lonely. Jesus encourages us to take a leap of faith to realise that we are surrounded by signs of God’s love and to recognise them for what they are and be thankful. Just as the body needs food, so does the soul. God sends that love, the bread of heaven, to us through his Son.
FINAL PRAYER: TiS 538 Robin Mann
Feed us now, Bread of life,
in this holy meal;
let us know your love anew:
we hunger for you.
Feed us now, Bread of life,
come and live within;
let your peace be ours today,
Lord Jesus, we pray.
Piece of bread, cup of wine:
Lord this food is good:
love and mercy come to us
your promise we trust.
Piece of bread, cup of wine:
who can understand
how his mercy works in these?
Yet, Lord, we believe.
God is here, O so near,
nearer than our thoughts.
Stay with us, where’er we go;
Lord, help us to grow.
God is here, O so near,
in this heaven’s meal.
May we always feed on you –
on the bread that is true.
Amen