June 7th, 2014
Today’s reading from Encounter with God

Empty-handed

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Opening Prayer

God, my Father, this day is Yours. I ask for Your watchfulness over me. Help me to find You through the day.

Read John 6:25-40

[25] When they found him on the other side of the lake, they asked him, “Rabbi, when did you get here?” [26] Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, you are looking for me, not because you saw the signs I performed but because you ate the loaves and had your fill. [27] Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For on him God the Father has placed his seal of approval.” [28] Then they asked him, “What must we do to do the works God requires?” [29] Jesus answered, “The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.” [30] So they asked him, “What sign then will you give that we may see it and believe you? What will you do? [31] Our ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written: ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.'” [32] Jesus said to them, “Very truly I tell you, it is not Moses who has given 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 the bread that comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” [34] “Sir,” they said, “always give us this bread.” [35] Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty. [36] But as I told you, you have seen me and still you do not believe. [37] All those the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away. [38] For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me. [39] And this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all those he has given me, but raise them up at the last day. [40] For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day.”

Scripture taken from the THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, NIV Copyright &copy 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.&reg Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Meditate

“Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labor on what does not satisfy? Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good” (Isa. 55:2).

Think Further

This dialogue with the crowd moves between themes of bread, work and life, culminating in “I am the bread of life” (35), the first of the seven “I am” sayings which are such a distinctive feature of John’s Gospel. The themes interconnect naturally. In everyday existence, work is necessary to earn the money to buy bread, and bread is necessary for life.

The crowd had pursued Jesus back across the lake. They had experienced the miracle–their bellies were full–but they had not understood the sign or responded in faith. They had been fed miraculously, just as their forebears had in Moses’ time, but then they ask for a miracle like the manna, even though they had already witnessed one! Jesus pointed them away from the temporary to the permanent, from the merely physical to the spiritual (which includes physical transformation–being raised up on the last day!).

This echoes Jesus’ offer of living water to the Samaritan woman in chapter 4. Like her, they want to know what they have to do. What work is required to get this superior bread? They are told that only one thing is necessary. The bread of life is a gift, just as the manna in the wilderness had been a gift. This gift has to be received by faith. Jesus himself is the gift. He is living water and the bread of life. Faith was, and is, the only proper response to his offer of himself. But faith is what this crowd lacks because faith involves being willing to receive, rather than to achieve through our own efforts. Those who come to Jesus in faith come with empty hands. The very question, “What do we have to do?” prevents them–and would prevent us–from hearing Jesus’ answer.

Apply

We come before God with empty hands. What are your needs at this time? Ask God to give You what he knows is best for you.

Closing prayer

Loving Lord, everyday Your gifts are all around me. I ask for eyes to see those gifts I take for granted. Living with You and for You is what I long for.

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