3rd Week of Easter 2021 - Tuesday (School Mass) - Jesus is the bread of life

 All of this week, our Gospel readings are taken from the sixth chapter of Saint John’s Gospel. Earlier in the chapter, Jesus performs the great miracle of the multiplication of the loaves. People had followed him out into the desert, far from their homes, they were starving, and so Jesus performs a miracle to feed them. From just a few loaves of bread, Jesus feeds 5000 people. There was so much bread left over after his miracle, that the leftover filled 12 large baskets.

If Jesus can satisfy 5000 people with just a few loaves, imagine what he can do with all the bread of the world, if we but dedicated it to him. If we took all of our possessions, all of the goods of the world, and consecrated them to Jesus and his purposes. If we were less selfish with our things and gave them to God, how much more peace would we enjoy!

In today’s Gospel the people were asking for a sign so they could believe that Jesus was really sent by God. People aren’t just hungry for physical food, they are hungry for the food of heaven. They are hungry for the things that the world cannot supply: true peace, true joy, eternal life, truth and goodness. Politics and government can’t give us these things. Science and technology cannot grant them. As much as they try, they cannot. But we know we long for these things, so where will they come from?

And Jesus says, the world cannot grant these things, but my Father can.  Peace and truth and eternal life: this is the food my father gives, this is the food I’ve come to give. And the people respond, Jesus, give us this heavenly bread. And what does Jesus say? “I am that bread”.

You want peace, you want joy, you want eternal life, you want your life to be filled with truth, and goodness, and beauty, go to Jesus to be fed. Come to Jesus to be fed. Believe and follow Jesus. Becomes his disciple. Walk in his truth. Follow his teachings. Pray to him. Ask his help. Ask him, like the people in the Gospel, “Sir, give us this heavenly bread. Give us this bread, always.”

In the words of the Psalm “Be my rock of refuge” Jesus. “A stronghold to give me safety.” Jesus. Be my rock and my fortress” Jesus. “For your name’s sake lead me and guide me Jesus” for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

 

Filled with Paschal joy, let us turn earnestly to God, to graciously hear our prayers and supplications.

For Pope Francis, all bishops and priests, that they may have the strength to govern wisely the flock entrusted to them by the Good Shepherd.

That the peoples of the world may turn to God as the source of all true and lasting peace.

That the parish and school of St. Ignatius of Antioch, may bear witness with great confidence to the Resurrection of Jesus.

For those experiencing any kind of hardship or sorrow, isolation, addiction, or illness: may they experience the good graces that come from Jesus’ Paschal Victory. Let us pray to the Lord.

That all of our beloved dead and all the souls in purgatory may come to the glory of the Resurrection.

O God, you know that our life in this present age is subject to suffering and need, hear the desires of those who cry to you and receive the prayers of those who believe in you. Through Christ our lord.