By Msgr. Joseph Prior • Posted August 9, 2024

The Bread of Life discourse continues again this week in the Gospel selection for Mass. Two weeks ago we heard the account of the multiplication of the loaves and fishes. Last week Jesus called us to put our faith in him who, sent by the Father, is the Bread of Life.

At this point in Jesus’ teaching, the emphasis is on just that — teaching. Jesus is the teacher. In fact, at one point in the reading today he says, “It is written in the prophets: They shall all be taught by God.”

The teacher teaches. Jesus is the one sent by the Father and from the Father. The lesson is on life, and that life lies with the Father and Jesus, the Son. He is the Way to the Father. He teaches us in many ways. He uses words. He tells stories. He tells parables. He preaches. He gives instructions. But he also teaches in his deeds.

In John’s Gospel some of these deeds are singled out. He refers to them as “signs.” The signs are meant to elicit faith, belief in Jesus. They are quite remarkable. We heard one of these accounts two weeks ago in the reading on the multiplication of the loaves and fishes. Some other examples are the changing of water into wine, the raising of Lazarus, and the restoration of sight to the man born blind.

One of the lessons from today’s reading is the teaching of Jesus that he is “the bread of life.” What does he mean by this? From a basic starting point, in those days bread was the staple food for sustaining life; in many places it still is today. Bread was needed for life; without bread people would die. The image is quite basic and simple, easy to understand and comprehend. Now Jesus applies this to himself, meaning that he is necessary for life. He is the one who will provide life.

The “bread” can be manifest in different ways. His teachings would be included in this image. But it goes further than just words; it would certainly include his deeds, actions, way of life, etc. But it goes even further that that; it would represent his whole person, his whole being, his whole life. He is the “bread of life.”

The first reading from the First Book of Kings recalls Elijah worn out and on the run from life. He pleads that the Lord take his life. Instead, the Lord gives him food and drink. God provides nourishment and strength for Elijah who afterwards will travel 40 days and nights to encounter God on Mount Horeb (cf. 1 Kgs 4:9-12).

This food was food for a journey, a journey to God whom Elijah encounters in that “light silent sound” (1 Kgs 4:12). God, the Father, provides us with food for our journey. The food is Jesus, the “bread come down from heaven.”

Some of the people hearing Jesus speak are doubtful of Jesus’ “coming down from heaven.” “Is this not Jesus, the Son of Joseph? Do we not know his father and mother?” Jesus resumes his teaching further emphasizing that he comes from the Father: “Not that anyone has seen the Father except the one who is from God; he has seen the Father.”

And once again he reiterates the call to faith: “Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever believes has eternal life.” Faith in Jesus is bound with eternal life.

Last week we considered the “manna in the desert” references and some of the similarities between the Bread of Life and the manna. Now Jesus makes a huge distinction: “Your ancestors ate the manna in the desert, but they died: this is the bread that comes down from heaven so that one may eat it and not die.” Jesus provides food for the journey to our encounter with the Father.

On the one hand, this journey may reflect that of Elijah, recalled in the first reading. But as with the “manna” reference, the food provided will not only be for life in this world. The journey will go much further and the encounter will be much more.

In the account of the multiplication of the loaves and fishes that begins this section in the fourth Gospel, the evangelist gives us a “time-stamp” so to speak. The time-setting for the “sign” and his words that follow is the Passover feast, for “it is near.”

The Passover celebration recalls God’s saving activity in the life of Israel. The people are spared from death as the angel passes over the homes in Egypt. They are delivered from slavery and sure death in the events that follow. They have the meal of unleavened bread, share the wine and eat the unblemished lamb that is sacrificed. The Passover theme resonates as Jesus says: “I am the living bread that came down from heaven; whoever eats this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give is my flesh for the life of the world.”

Jesus is teaching us this lesson on life. His life will be given for our lives. He will offer himself as a sacrifice so that we might live forever. He will open the door to eternal life through his death. Sharing in his offering will lead to life for “whoever eats this bread will live forever.” The call to faith is to place our trust in Jesus, to listen to him and to share in his sacrifice.

As we move through the Bread of Life discourse, Jesus is leading us further and further into the mystery of his Eucharistic offering and presence. Next week we will go even further. Jesus comes to us from the Father to lead us to the Father. He teaches us, both in word and deed, how to travel on this journey and in doing so offers himself as the Bread of Life.

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Msgr. Joseph Prior is pastor of Our Lady of Grace Parish, Penndel, and a former professor of Sacred Scripture and rector of St. Charles Borromeo Seminary.