Reflection for May 5 Monday of the Third Week of Easter: John 6:22-29

Gospel: John 6:22-29

The next day, the crowd that remained across the sea saw that there had been only one boat there, and that Jesus had not gone along with his disciples in the boat, but only his disciples had left. Other boats came from Tiberias near the place where they had eaten the bread when the Lord gave thanks. 

When the crowd saw that neither Jesus nor his disciples were there, they themselves got into boats and came to Capernaum looking for Jesus. And when they found him across the sea they said to him, “Rabbi, when did you get here?” 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 perishes 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.” So they said to him, “What can we do to accomplish the works of God?” Jesus answered and said to them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in the one he sent.”

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Reflection:

A man was once asked why he attends the celebration of the Holy Mass every day. He said that he does so because he wants to be nourished by Jesus every day. Then he said these very profound words: “I don’t have the heart to refuse Jesus, who always offers Himself to me during Holy Communion.” 

Almost every day of our lives, Jesus offers Himself to us through Holy Communion during the celebration of the Holy Mass. He is the food that does not perish, and He is the food that gives eternal life. Yet we oftentimes take Him for granted, choosing not to go to Holy Mass even when we have the luxury of time. 

But when are we going to Jesus? When we are already in dire need of Him? Let us not wait for the time when we are forced to go to Jesus—because we are already sick or only a few breaths away from death. 

Let us take advantage of the present moment we have each day. Let us go to Jesus now. For everything is ours to gain; we will lose nothing—except our sinfulness—the moment we decide to go to Jesus. 

Do you always go to Jesus, who always offers Himself to you in the celebration of the Holy Mass? – Marino J. Dasmarinas