"Show Me a Sign": A Reflection on the Gospel for August 5th, 2018: Eighteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

John 6:24-35 (NRSV)
24 So when the crowd saw that neither Jesus nor his disciples were there, they themselves got into the boats and went to Capernaum looking for Jesus.

25 When they found him on the other side of the sea, they said to him, “Rabbi, when did you come here?” 26 Jesus answered them, “Very truly, I tell you, you are looking for me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves. 27 Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures for eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For it is on him that God the Father has set his seal.” 28 Then they said to him, “What must we do to perform the works of God?” 29 Jesus answered them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.” 30 So 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? 31 Our ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written, ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’” 32 Then 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. 33 For the bread of God is that which[a] comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” 34 They said to him, “Sir, give us this bread always.”
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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.

The text of this beautiful Gospel is preceded by the account of the miracle of the feeding of the multitude. Following that event, Jesus withdrew and went to Capernaum. During this journey on the sea of Galilee (actually a freshwater lake), He walked on water, assuring His disciples: "It is I, do not be afraid" (John 6:20).

The Gospel of John is written in a conversational style. When meditating upon the script, it is easy to imagine being a bystander, listening to the exchange of words. Human nature has not radically changed over the centuries. I 'listen' to the words of the people seeking Jesus. They are hoping that Jesus may be able to provide them with an inexhaustible source of food, not requiring labour, etc. They had not comprehended the 'sign', thinking only of temporal benefits.

As I ponder the exchange between Jesus and the people, I ask myself if I too easily ignore the signs. Do I hope for easy answers? And though I question, "what must I do”, does the 'noise' of self-interest and expectation gradually cloud my ability to hear what Jesus wishes to say? Do I really hear the profound but simple words of Jesus, telling me that He is the "Bread of God, come down from Heaven to give Life to the world”? 

And if I comprehend and absorb His message, how can I keep it to myself? To quote a line from Psalm 78, ”we will declare to the generations to come the glorious deeds of the Lord”. I think Jesus asks us to daily continue the miracle of the 'feeding' of the multitude, sharing with those around us the ‘sign’—the message of the Word of God "sent from the Father to give Life".

With praise and thanksgiving, one prays the words of this Gospel—perhaps even daily—in the celebration and prayer of the Mass.  As Jesus gives Himself to us in the Eucharist, His words fill our hearts, ”I am the Bread of Life. Whoever comes to Me will never be hungry, and whoever believes in Me will never be thirsty”.  Amen.

​Lynda Tyler

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Other interesting bits: Jesus spent most of His public life in Galilee. His ministry and many of His miracles were performed in the villages surrounding 'the sea of Galilee. His disciples were from the area.  Judeans looked down upon Galileans as 'second class citizens'. Their ancestors were people who had fled their homes at the time of war with Assyria, and therefore their ancestors (even after many generations) were considered to be 'less desirable’.
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Amazing that God never tires of our foolishness!

"Though I question, "what must I do”, does the 'noise' of self-interest and expectation gradually cloud my ability to hear what Jesus wishes to say?"
​- Lynda Tyler (Ora Reflections)