By Rev. Canon David B. Tabo-oy
“ I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If you eat this bread, you will live forever. The bread that I will give you is my flesh, which I give so that the world may live.” – – John 6:51
This verse is the last in the Gospel reading for this week from the sixth chapter according to John. To those who have been following this column and those attentively noting the readings every Sunday in the church would immediately recognize that this is a continuation of the last week’s lesson. It is also the continuation of Jesus’ discourse when the people came seeking him after the miraculous feeding of the multitude of people.
After that miraculous multiplication of loaves and fish, the crowd still nonchalantly asked Jesus to show them sign of proof and make his teachings acceptable – and that people may believe him as the Messiah, the gift from God.
Real spiritual transformation could begin only when people let go of their imaginary position as the centre of things (star-of-the-show complex) and self-centredness. This is according to Simon Weil, a scholar and theologian. She adds that since “self” will ever be human’s abiding idolatry or “false divinity”, the denial of self is part and parcel of true discipleship. Our selfishness is so insidious or deceitful, however, as to prevent easy detection. The malignancy of this ‘false divinity’ of self-centeredness is so invisible as to prevent easy prevention and eradication. We often find ourselves thinking that our kind of witness are God’s command, and that our expectations constitute hope. The result would be the “messianic complex” and “holier-than-thou” inflation and infection of the ego.
The people who were fed miraculously and were filled still asked Jesus for some signs that would prove to them that he truly was God’s gift to the world, that he is somebody that meet their expectations of what a messiah ought to be. In short, a messiah according to their standards. The people were easily convinced that Jesus is a prophet on the category of Moses. His provision of bread and walking on water – connected or likened to the manna eaten by their forefathers and deliverance from the Red Sea. But Jesus pointed out that it was not Moses but God the Father – Yahweh – who did all that.
In our lesson today (John 6:32-51) the discourse or sermon of Jesus has begun and Jesus is proving more outstanding and incisive than Moses both in giving and requiring. He says, “I am the bread of life”. In so saying, he promises to satisfy more than the hungry stomachs. But they must believe in order to be filled. And to believe of course, they must see beyond their expectations and prejudices and self-centeredness. They must renounce their selfish and vain imaginings. “We know this guy, don’t we?” Such as the crowd’s response to the message of Jesus. “Why, he’s only Mary and Joseph’s son. How can he be the bread of life that he says that he is?”
‘Everyone will be taught by God, the prophets wrote. Anyone who hears the Father and learns from him comes to me.’ Jesus says that all who come to him do so because they have been taught by God; they have heard and learned from God. Disciples are those in other words have been mentored – or have drawn wisdom from God. True disciples, those being truly transformed are being drawn out of their selfishness, self-centeredness, idolatry (worship of self), and idle speculation: they are drawn out from the world and toward Christ. They are able to announce their place at the centre, and find Jesus at the centre.
***
“I am the Bread of Life” is the first of the seven “I am” statements recorded in John’s Gospel, each one emphasizing important aspect of the personal ministry of Jesus. This statement tells us that Christ is the sustenance that nourishes spiritual life (v53). The other “I am” statements are: “the light of the world” (8.16), “the gate”(10.9). “the good shepherd”(10.11-14).
***
I remember this story written by a preacher which he used to relate to the importance of food for our physical well-being as well as the spiritual food that Jesus provides for the nourishment of our souls:
At the foot of a great mountain in China lived a father and his three sons. They were a simple and loving family. The father noticed that travellers came from afar eager to climb the dangerous mountain. But not one of them ever returned! The three sons heard stories about the mountain, how it was made all of gold and silver at the top. Despite their father’s warnings, they could not resist venturing up the mountain.
Along the way, under a tree, sat a beggar, but the sons did not speak to him or give him anything. They ignored him. One by one, the sons disappeared up the mountain, the first to a house of rich food, the second to a house of fine wine, the third to a house of gambling. Each became a slave to his desire and forgot his home. Meanwhile, their father became heartsick. He missed them terribly. “Danger aside,” he said, “I must find my sons.”
Once he scaled the mountain, the father found that indeed the rocks were gold, the streams silver. But he hardly noticed. He only wanted to reach his sons, to help them remember the life of love they once knew. On the way down, having failed to find them, the father noticed the beggar under the tree and asked for his advice.
“The mountain will give your sons back,” said the beggar, “only if you bring something from home to cause them to remember the love of their family.”
The father raced home, brought back a bowl full of rice, and gave the beggar some as a thank-you for his wisdom. He then found his sons, one at a time, and carefully placed a grain of rice on the tongue of each of them. At that moment, the sons recognized their foolhardiness. Their real life was now apparent to them. They returned home with their father, and as one loving family lived happily ever after.
As we go to church every Sunday or any day to receive the Body and Blood of our Lord in the Holy Communion, we receive a reminder of home, a taste of food that will help us remember who we are. I mean the bread of life, our Father’s gift to us. This is the food of God’s kingdom, and reminds us that this kingdom is our true home.
***
“When the journey is long
and we hunger and thirst,
Bread of Life, you sustain us.
When the road is hard
and our bodies weak
Bread of Life, you heal us.
When our spirits are low
and we can’t carry on
Bread of Life, you revive us.
When we offer our hand
in love and in service
Bread of life, you bless us.
When the challenge is great
and the workers are few
Bread of Life, you empower us.
When the victory is won
and we see your face
Bread of Life, you will rejoice with us!” – faithandworship.com
