18TH HOMILY OF SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME — YEAR B

18TH HOMILY OF SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME — YEAR B

HOMILY THEME: SEEKING THE BREAD OF LIFE

BY: Fr. Anthony O. Ezeaputa

Our first reading (Exodus 16:2-4, 12–15) and gospel passage (John 6:24–35) invite us to reflect on our desires and where we seek fulfillment. The Israelites in the desert and the crowd following Jesus were both searching for bread, but Jesus offered us something more: himself, the Bread of Life.

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In our first reading (Exodus 16:2-4, 12–15), we read that in the desert, the Israelites grumbled against God, seeking physical bread. They had escaped slavery in Egypt, but their bellies were empty, and they feared they would starve. They looked to Moses and Aaron for solutions, but God had a different plan.

God provided manna, a mysterious bread that appeared each morning. It was a symbol of spiritual nourishment, a reminder that God is our true sustenance. But the Israelites soon grew worn out of this divine bread and craved the fleshpots of Egypt. They craved a lesser bread, forgetting the God who had given them something greater: freedom from oppression.

What happened to the Israelites may be likened to being stuck in a toxic relationship, and God helped you find the strength to leave and start anew. At first, you were grateful for the freedom and the chance to rediscover yourself. But then, life gets tough—bills pile up, loneliness sets in, and the comfort of familiarity starts to beckon.

One day, you find yourself reminiscing about the “good old days” with your ex, forgetting the pain and manipulation you endured. You start to wonder if you were mistaken in leaving, and the thought of going back becomes tantalizing. You begin to crave the familiar, even if it’s toxic, just as the Israelites craved Egypt’s fleshpots.

But here’s the thing: going back would mean giving up the spiritual nourishment and growth you’ve experienced since leaving. It’s like settling for stale, moldy bread when you’ve been feasting on fresh manna. God wants to continue to sustain and guide you, but you must trust in His provision and not yearn for the lesser things He’s already delivered you from.

In our gospel reading (John 6:24–35), Jesus declares himself the Bread of Life. The crowd had followed him, seeking another free meal, but Jesus offered them something more. He says, “Do not work for food that perishes, but for food that endures to eternal life.” He’s not just talking about bread; he’s talking about the very essence of our existence.

We often find ourselves settling for lesser things—material possessions, power, or short-lived pleasures—instead of seeking the true Bread that satisfies our deepest hunger. While it’s good to work hard and achieve success, if we’re not careful, our pursuit of wealth, status, and influence can become idols that leave us feeling empty and unfulfilled. We’re like the Israelites, who longed for the comforts of Egypt, forgetting the God who had liberated them from slavery.

But Jesus offers us himself, the living bread that gives eternal life. He’s the source of true fulfillment, the one who satisfies our deepest hungers. When we seek him, we find that he’s the one we’ve been searching for all along.

Francine Rivers was a successful writer of romance novels, but despite her outward success, she felt empty and unfulfilled. She struggled with a deep sense of purposelessness and disconnection from God. She wrote, “I had everything I thought would bring me happiness, but I was miserable.”

One day, Francine’s husband, Rick, became a Christian, and his transformation sparked her interest in Jesus. She began to seek God, reading the Bible and praying. As she did, she encountered Jesus in a profound way.

Francine wrote, “I realized I had been trying to fill the void in my life with things that couldn’t satisfy. Jesus was the missing piece I had been searching for.” She surrendered her life to Jesus and began writing Christian fiction, using her talents to glorify God.

Francine’s life transformed dramatically. She found true fulfillment in Jesus, and her writing became a powerful tool for sharing the Gospel. She wrote, “Jesus is the only one who can satisfy the deepest longings of our hearts.”

Francine’s story illustrates how Jesus is the source of true fulfillment, satisfying our deepest hungers and providing a sense of purpose and belonging. When she sought Jesus, she discovered that he was the one she had been searching for all along. Her life serves as a testament to the transformative power of seeking Jesus and finding true fulfillment in him.

May we not settle for the stale bread of our past but instead feast on the fresh manna of God’s presence in our lives. May we not desire the fleeting pleasures of this world, but rather hunger for the Bread of Life, Jesus Christ. May we trust in His provision and guidance, and may we find true fulfillment in His love and grace.

Let us remember that Jesus is the one we’ve been searching for all along. He is the missing piece that brings purpose and belonging to our lives. Let us seek Him and find true satisfaction in Him. Amen.

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