Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me will never hunger, and whoever believes in me will never thirst. 36 But I told you that although you have seen [me], you do not believe. 37 Everything that the Father gives me will come to me, and I will not reject anyone who comes to me, 38 because I came down from heaven not to do my own will but the will of the one who sent me. 39 And this is the will of the one who sent me, that I should not lose anything of what he gave me, but that I should raise it [on] the last day. 40 For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in him may have eternal life, and I shall raise him [on] the last day.
When Jesus made the claim, “I am the bread of life,” the crowd did not understand him for a few reasons: They interpreted his words literally; he used metaphors and symbolic language; they had specific expectations of the Messiah which Jesus did not fit; most of them were spiritually blind; and they lacked faith. Jesus sustains our spiritual life. Those who come to him and believe in him will find fulfillment and satisfaction and will never hunger or thirst spiritually (Mt. 5:6). The crowds have heard and continue to hear his teachings and witness his miracles but many refuse to believe in him.
Jesus will welcome all whom his Father, through grace, has given to him as it is the divine purpose to reveal the Father's love, offer salvation to humanity, and reconcile humanity with God. Jesus will not reject anyone who comes to him with true faith, and he will raise them on the last day (Jn. 11:24). Faith leads to eternal life (Jn. 3:16). The Father’s will is for everyone who sees the Son and individually believes in him to receive eternal life. Belief is a free act of the will. Jesus promises to save and resurrect to eternal life all whom the Father gives to him (Jn. 10:17:12). Jesus has the responsibility to save everyone the Father gives to him (Jn. 17:2-3).
Almighty God, help us to desire the true bread from heaven which gives life and sustains souls. Help us to trust in your will, knowing that Jesus will raise us to eternal life on the last day. This we pray through Christ our Lord. Amen!
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References
Chiu, José Enrique Aguilar, et al. The Paulist Biblical Commentary. Paulist Press, 2018.
Brown, Raymond Edward, et al. The New Jerome Biblical Commentary. Upper Saddle River, NJ, United States, Prentice Hall, 1990.
Chiu, José Enrique Aguilar, et al. The Paulist Biblical Commentary. Paulist Press, 2018.
Brown, Raymond Edward, et al. The New Jerome Biblical Commentary. Upper Saddle River, NJ, United States, Prentice Hall, 1990.
Orchard, Bernard, et al. A Catholic Commentary on Holy Scripture. Feb. 1953.
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