Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint John 6, 44-51
Jesus said to the crowds:
“No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draw him,
and I will raise him on the last day.
It is written in the prophets:
They shall all be taught by God.
Everyone who listens to my Father and learns from him comes to me.
Not that anyone has seen the Father
except the one who is from God;
he has seen the Father.
Amen, amen, I say to you,
whoever believes has eternal life.
I am the bread of life.
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.
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.”
I am the bread of life
1. People. The Christian way of life isn’t defined by the opinions of others. Following Jesus is not a trend or fashion statement. Being a Christian doesn’t mean we strive to attract more followers just to increase numbers. It’s a way of living adopted after encountering Jesus; it’s a conscious decision, not merely joining a club or association. Christianity isn’t about belonging to a group that follows rules to feel purer than others or about observing rituals without meaning. It means living with Christ, within Christ and for Christ.
2. Come to Jesus. Lately, I’ve realised that I want to figure it all out on my own, rarely turning to Jesus. Instead, I turn to other people or things. I seek comfort by binge-watching Netflix, indulging in mindless entertainment on my phone, or through food and drink. These things might offer temporary relief, but they merely numb my life rather than providing genuine solutions. Face life’s challenges knowing Christ is with you; with Him, accept your life and all the sacrifices it brings.
3. In the desert. There are moments when you feel as though you’re wandering in a desert, avoiding challenges out of fear for what the future holds. I remember a friend who went to the doctor because of severe muscle pain – he hadn’t slept for days and struggled even to sit. The doctor reassured him and wrote out a prescription: “make decisions, there are only two, but make them”. So today, take your time, think things through, and make decisions so you don’t end up living endlessly in the desert.
Never forget that something good is on the way!
God bless you and protect you in the name of the Father, of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
