John 6:22-29 NRSVue
22The next day the crowd that had stayed on the other side of the sea saw that there had been only one boat there. They also saw that Jesus had not gotten into the boat with his disciples but that his disciples had gone away alone. 23But some boats from Tiberias came near the place where they had eaten the bread after the Lord had given thanks. 24So when the crowd saw that neither Jesus nor his disciples were there, they themselves got into the boats and went to Capernaum looking for Jesus.
25When they found him on the other side of the sea, they said to him, “Rabbi, when did you come here?” 26Jesus answered them, “Very truly, I tell you, you are looking for me not because you saw signs but because you ate your fill of the loaves. 27Do not work for the food that perishes but for the food that endures for eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For it is on him that God the Father has set his seal.” 28Then they said to him, “What must we do to perform the works of God?” 29Jesus answered them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.”
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Reflection on John 6:22-29
Inspiration from 2025-05-05 Daily Prayer
There is a selfishness in all of us. As children, our prayers were filled with asking for things, but with maturity, we recognise that we have different needs. We trust more and more in the love of our Father for us and that he will give us what is best for us. All prayer is about a relationship, and our prayer time helps us grow in this relationship. Our encounter with our Friend should be an experience of quiet joy and peace.
Further reflection
We look to God for many things. Jesus notices that his disciples follow now to get more bread: they wanted to be fed and not to lack ordinary food. Jesus has more to give. He offers the food and the drink of eternal life. The food and drink of his love and the love of God which will never get stale or run dry. This is the food of faith - prayer is the nourishment of faith.
Jesus is always leading us beyond where we are, beyond our hunger for physical food to the 'the food that endures for eternal life'. He reveals what this means step by step. The key task we must perform is to believe in him as the one sent by the Father. Have we really taken that step?
Believing is 'the work of God'. It is what God wants of us. It is also what God works in us. God nourishes the roots of faith in us when we pray.
As precious as the miracles of Jesus were, as much as they showed the generosity of God, Jesus does not want us to depend only on them. I pray for confidence in Jesus' promise of eternal life.
Jesus does not separate belief and activity. Here he shows us that belief and trust are works of God. I ask God to help me to make a good act of faith.