Reflection for April 24, Monday of the third Week of Easter: John 6:22-29

Gospel: John 6:22-29

22 On the next day the people who remained on the other side of the sea saw that there had been only one boat there, and that Jesus had not entered the boat with his disciples, but that his disciples had gone away alone. 23 However, boats from Tiber'i-as came near the place where they ate the bread after the Lord had given thanks. 24 So when the people saw that Jesus was not there, nor his disciples, they themselves got into the boats and went to Caper'na-um, seeking 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, "Truly, truly, I say to you, you seek me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves. 27 Do not labor for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to eternal life, which the Son of man will give to you; for on him has God the Father set his seal." 28 Then they said to him, "What must we do, to be doing the works of God?" 29 Jesus answered them, "This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent."

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Reflection:

Do we still have time to reflect about the present state of our spiritual life? We do this to see if we are still living a life of purpose. Many of us today don’t have time anymore to reflect about the present state of our life with Jesus. Instead what we have time for is to think on how we could earn more to assure our future in this world. 

But what will happen to us if all we think about is how to ensure our future in this world? We will become people of this world that is completely alien to the significant role of Jesus in our lives. 

As we exist in this world we must not also forget to think about our relationship with Jesus. If we are able to feed our bodies with food to make us strong and healthy. Then, it is also incumbent upon us that we nourish our hungry spirits as often as we nourish our mortal bodies with its worldly needs.  

Why do we desire to follow Jesus? Is it because we want to have material prosperity so that we can feed ourselves with the best food that this world can offer? And so that we can buy whatever we want from this world? Or we follow Jesus for the reason that we want to feed our thirsty spirits? 

In our gospel for today the crowd is chasing Jesus not because they want to feed their hungry spirits. They simply want to feed their hungry stomachs. – Marino J. Dasmarinas