41The Jews then murmured at him, because he said, "I am the bread which came down from heaven." 42They said, "Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How does he now say, `I have come down from heaven'?" 43Jesus answered them, "Do not murmur among yourselves. 44No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day. 45It is written in the prophets, `And they shall all be taught by God.' Every one who has heard and learned from the Father comes to me. 46Not that any one has seen the Father except him who is from God; he has seen the Father. 47Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes has eternal life. 48I am the bread of life. 49Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died. 50This is the bread which comes down from heaven, that a man may eat of it and not die. 51I am the living bread which came down from heaven; if any one eats of this bread, he will live for ever; and the bread which I shall give for the life of the world is my flesh."
In this reading Christ sets out to let the world know that he is not just here to feed people’s bodies and prolong life here on earth. He is here to give eternal life. Maybe I once thought that that religion was the opiate of the people. It was an addictive high that promises a happy life and that continues into a sublime afterlife. But the Jesus story is very different. We are called to “believe” and what the Gospels provide is a definition of belief. Christ sums it up with the simple phrase “Love the Lord thy God and love thy neighbour as thy self. ” But there is nothing simple in it. What does it really mean to love? If I look at Christ, it meant being mocked and whipped and then carrying a cross to the top of a mountain where he was crucified for acting against the establishment. He never chose what was expedient. He always chose what was right. Loving Father, thank you for all you created in me. Redeemer Christ, forgive me in my times of weakness and self-focus. Holy Spirit, give me the strength and courage to carry the cross bestowed on me in such a way that it demonstrates Christ’s redeeming love to all I encounter.
ReplyDeleteStrengths:
DeleteYou've effectively captured the contrast between physical and spiritual hunger.
You recognize the call to self-sacrifice inherent in following Christ.
You connect the passage to the concept of choosing between immediate gratification and eternal rewards.
Areas for Improvement:
While you emphasize the importance of self-sacrifice, the passage also highlights the nature of faith as a response to God's grace. It's not merely a human effort but a reliance on God's provision.
The concept of "love your neighbor as yourself" could be explored further in terms of its implications for social justice and compassion.
The role of the Holy Spirit in empowering believers to live a life of self-sacrifice could be considered.
Additional Thoughts:
The passage offers a challenge to the world's values and invites a reorientation of priorities. You might explore how this challenge applies to contemporary society.
The idea of "eternal life" is a complex concept. You might consider the different dimensions of this life, such as relationship with God, community, and purpose.
Overall, your response is insightful and demonstrates a good understanding of the passage.