In this Sunday’s gospel Jesus tells the crowds that he is the true bread which comes down from heaven. Immediately there is confusion in his audience. When Jews hear of bread come down from heaven, they immediately remember the mana that God sent to the Jews in the wilderness during the exodus. That mana (bread) sustained the people of Israel for the 40 years they wandered in the wilderness. For a Jew that was the bread which comes down from heaven.
Jesus hears what his critics say but reminds them that even the people who were fed directly by God for 40 years still died. Jesus then goes on to tell the crowd that whoever eats the bread that he gives them will have eternal life now and be raised on the last day. Jesus is the very bread of life, the bread which comes down from heaven. The bread he gives us is his own body which we receive each time we take communion. Each week we are invited to receive the bread of life, the body of Christ the Holy Communion. God invites us to eat and be filled.
Thanks be to God.
Pastor Bill