Eighteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time (B)

August 5, 2018 

Readings:

First Reading: Exodus 16: 2-4, 12-15

Psalm: 78

Second Reading: Ephesian 4: 17, 20-24

Gospel reading according to John 6: 24-35

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Homily:

The crowd in that place where the miracle of multiplication of five loaves of bread and two fish happened did not see Jesus and even his disciples were vanished in their sight, they became uneasy and indignant.  They were asking to each other if they saw Jesus and his disciples, and when they realized that they left the place for the crowd was planning to make Jesus their king.  They tried to find him and his disciples. “When the crowd saw that neither Jesus nor his disciples were there, they themselves got into boats and came to Capernaum looking for Jesus” (Jn. 6: 24).  One by one rode on the boats to find Jesus.  Those who could not accommodated in the boats, they walked fast to look for Jesus and his disciples.  Again, they were “tuliro,” confused, and disoriented of whereabouts of Jesus.  They tried their best to find him and his disciples.  Until they reached Capernaum in searching for Jesus.

The people in their great pursuit found Jesus and his disciples in Capernaum.  There is a saying, “There is no difficult things to do to those who are in need,” and this is true to the people in the crowd who need physical (and spiritual) help from the Lord.  “And when they found him across the sea they said to him, ‘Rabbi, when did you get here?’” (Jn. 6: 25).  When they found him, they pretended that they did not know that Jesus and his disciples left the area where the sign of multiplication of the loaves and fish happened.  They pretended by asking when they arrived there in Capernaum.  They did not say directly that they wanted him to be their king so that he is always around and ready to serve them and make miracles for them as signs of true leader, king and prophet.  They fabricated their thoughts by saying when did he arrive in Capernaum without their knowledge. Of course, they will not tell the truth why they were looking for him.  People will try to do anything just to get what they want.  But Jesus knew our hearts and our intentions that is why he was trying to avoid the crowd.

But since they have had found him, Jesus confronted them by telling the truth.  “Jesus answered them and said, ‘Amen, amen, I say to you, you are looking for me not because you saw signs but because you ate the loaves and were filled.  Do not work for food that perished but for the food that endures for eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you.  For on him the Father, God, has set his seal’.” (Jn. 6: 26-27).  People came to Jesus for material things, like food that satisfies physical hunger.  Jesus taught them not only to look for physical and material things that perish, but rather look first the spiritual things that last forever and only in Jesus these can be found.  It was to him alone that the almighty God and Father have given this as set of seal for eternal life.   

Still, they did not understand Jesus Christ for their mind was still in material things.  “So they said to him, ‘What can we do to accomplish the works of God?’” (Jn. 6: 28).  They need more clarification and understanding to what Jesus had told them.  Jesus explained to them in plain words about the working of God.  Everything comes from God for he made us all.  Nothing is impossible in God but all is possible.  “Jesus answered and said to them, ‘This is the work of God, that you believe in the one he sent’.” (Jn. 6: 29).  And the proof of God’s doing and working is best found in his Son Jesus Christ, his perfect creation, and our model in keeping God’s work.  Jesus is the perfect and fullness of creation where we are supposed to pattern our lives and image.  When we become Chrit Jesus we reach our perfection and completeness.  In believing in Jesus Christ, we also believe in God whom He sent his only begotten Son.

The more people became confused and perplexed.  They still holding the tradition they received from their ancestors regarding the “manna,” the bread from heaven, that according to them was given by Moses.  They were distorted to what really happened in the wilderness when God delivered Israel in bandage from slavery in Egypt.  “So they said to him, ‘What sign can you do, that we may see and believe in you?  Our ancestors ate manna in the desert, as it is written: He gave them bread from heaven to eat’.” (Jn. 6: 30-31).  They were asking Jesus to make a sign, like the sign of Moses performed to the Israelites during exodus, to prove to what he was saying and claiming as an indication for them in believing in him.

The great revelation was exposed by Jesus to the people.  “So Jesus said to them, ‘Amen, amen, I say to you, it was not Moses who gave the bread from heaven; my Father gives you true bread from heaven.  For the bread of God is that which comes down from heaven and gives life to the world’.” (Jn. 6: 32-33).  To prove and at the same time clarify to them that they were wrong in believing what their ancestors told them about Moses and the “manna.”  It was God the Father who created and gave the bread from heaven and not Moses, for Moses has no power to create bread and to let it fell down from heaven.  Jesus who came from heaven and was sent by God from heaven is not only the sign but above all the reality of the bread that gives life - eternal life. 

When they realized the truth to what Jesus said they found new source of spiritual food.  They no longer asking for a sign as proof to believe in him but this time they were asking him this new bread from heaven that sent by God the Father.  “So they said to him, ‘Sir, give us this bread always’.” (Jn. 6: 34).  Now, for the meantime, they understood him and they believed in him.  With different perspective regarding the bread, they no longer asking for material bread but instead of spiritual bread, the life and word of our Lord Jesus Christ. “Jesus said to them, ‘I am the bread of life, whoever comes to me will never hunger; and whoever believes in me will never thirst’.” (Jn. 6: 35).  Jesus’ body is the true food (Bread=Eucharist) to be eaten that satisfies hunger and his blood (Wine) is true drink that quench thirst for those who have faith and believe in him and will receive eternal life.  In Jesus, there is no hunger and thirst.  We are always full and satisfied in him.