18TH SUNDAY HOMILY OF THE ORDINARY TIME — YEAR B

18TH SUNDAY HOMILY OF THE ORDINARY TIME — YEAR B

HOMILY THEME: JESUS, THE BREAD OF LIFE

BY: Fr Peter Gabriel Okon

Exodus 16:2-4, 12-15; Ephesians 4:17, 20-24; John 6:24-35

“I am the bread of life; he who comes to me shall not hunger and he who believes in me shall never thirst” (John 6:35).

In today’s Gospel, the crowd who went to Jesus were inspired by the miracle of multiplication, having previously benefited from the free supplies of food. Food is very important, it satisfies one of the basic needs of man. This explains why the people quickly arranged to crown Jesus as King, so they could be assured of continuous supplies. Similarly, the Israelites in the first reading openly complained to Moses and Aaron as a result of shortage of food supplies. God out of compassion provided them with food, in form of quails. However, both the Israelites and the crowd in the Gospel laboured for the food that will not endure and Jesus today admonishes us thus; “Do not labour for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to eternal life,” (John 6:26).

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Last Sunday we began reading from John’s Gospel, known for having an elaborate discourse on the bread of life, which takes an entire chapter (6:1-71). The discourse began with the miracle of multiplication, which catered for one of the basic human needs; food. However, the audience seemed to have a different understanding and motive from that of Jesus, who intended to lead them to Himself, the life giving bread. Satisfying bodily hunger was a step towards leading the people to spiritual satisfaction. Jesus’ mission was not centred on solving the problem of basic human needs, even though He was strongly compassionate towards such course, rather His mission was to raise fallen humanity to a glorious state once again.

“Truly, truly I say to you, you seek me not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves . Do not labour for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to eternal life,” (John 6:26) clearly signaled the people’s wrong motive. We have in the scriptures the likes of Gehazi in the old testament, 2 Kings 5:20-27; Judas Iscariot in the new testament, John 12:5-8, and of course the crowd followed Jesus Christ with the wrong motive, and it didn’t end well. Presently, we still find many of us who follow Jesus, (attend Church programmes, become ministers and assumed religious positions) with the wrong motive. Following Jesus for the physical gains and not for it’s spiritual essence, which is the salvation of soul. We sincerely need a change of heart, if we are to be different from these examples.

Today, Jesus invites us to express faith and trust in Him, “ to believe in the one whom the Father has sent”. Believing in Him means we will seek Him not for signs and wonders, but to be filled by Him. Jesus Himself should be the goal. The best gift God the Father has gifted us is Jesus, the bread of life. The Eucharist therefore serves to nourish and give life to all who receives it.

Beloved in Christ, true Christian hunger cannot be satisfied by food. Food alone is not enough. No matter how much of it we consume, we will remain hungry and thirsty. Food here represent the present culture of consumerism and hedonism, which is reducing man to just pleasure seeking beings. Today, there is the hunger for truth, the hunger for love, the hunger for justice and compassion, hunger for life, it is only in Jesus can these be satisfied, for He is the bread of life, He is the way, the truth and the life. Here, St Paul in the second reading, Ephesians 4: 17, 20-24, invites us to a new living, one that is borne from our regeneration through Jesus Christ. As believers, we have to lead the world, the people around us, to seek satisfaction in Christ Jesus our Lord, and stop seeking and shopping after the “miracles of Jesus” with no faith and trust in the person of Jesus Christ.

There is no amount of miracles and signs that can satisfy one who lacks Jesus Christ in him or her. Just as the manna and the loaves could not satisfy the people for long. Miracles serve only to point to Jesus Christ. True satisfaction is in embodying Jesus Christ, becoming one with Him through reception of the Eucharist and complete faith in Him. Let us continuously pray that the Father will draw us to the One He has sent, the Lord Jesus Christ so that we may be fully satisfied lacking nothing.

May the Lord Jesus Christ satisfy our deepest yearning and hunger and lead us to eternity with Him Amen.
Wishing you a happy new month and blessed Sunday.

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