Persecution, Bread Of Life
Introduction
The fervour of the young Church is so contagious, that even in persecution Christians use the occasion of the persecution itself to preach the risen Christ. Indeed, God does not abandon the Church, even in moments of trial. The reading from Acts says that there was even great joy over the signs of the Lord’s presence.
There is also a great joy in the Gospel where we hear Jesus says that he is our bread of life: not only will he later give himself as bread to eat, but his word and message are for us real bread of life, something to live by and to live for.
1 Reading: ACTS 8:1B-8
There broke out a severe persecution of the Church in Jerusalem,
and all were scattered
throughout the countryside of Judea and Samaria,
except the Apostles.
Devout men buried Stephen and made a loud lament over him.
Saul, meanwhile, was trying to destroy the Church;
entering house after house and dragging out men and women,
he handed them over for imprisonment.
Now those who had been scattered went about preaching the word.
Thus Philip went down to the city of Samaria
and proclaimed the Christ to them.
With one accord, the crowds paid attention to what was said by Philip
when they heard it and saw the signs he was doing.
For unclean spirits, crying out in a loud voice,
came out of many possessed people,
and many paralyzed and crippled people were cured.
There was great joy in that city.
Responsorial Psalm 66:1-3a, 4-5, 6-7a
R. (1) Let all the earth cry out to God with joy. or: R. Alleluia.
Shout joyfully to God, all the earth,
sing praise to the glory of his name;
proclaim his glorious praise.
Say to God, “How tremendous are your deeds!” R.
“Let all on earth worship and sing praise to you,
sing praise to your name!”
Come and see the works of God,
his tremendous deeds among the children of Adam. R.
He has changed the sea into dry land;
through the river they passed on foot;
therefore let us rejoice in him.
He rules by his might forever. R.
Alleluia John 6:40
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Everyone who believe in the Son has eternal life,
and I shall raise him on the last day, says the Lord.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel: John 6:35-40
Jesus said to the crowds,
“I am the bread of life;
whoever comes to me will never hunger,
and whoever believes in me will never thirst.
But I told you that although you have seen me,
you do not believe.
Everything that the Father gives me will come to me,
and I will not reject anyone who comes to me,
because I came down from heaven not to do my own will
but the will of the one who sent me.
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.
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.”
Commentary
During the conflict between Hindus and Muslims in India in the twentieth century, Mahatma Gandhi was once visited by a troubled Hindu who had just killed a Muslim man, the only parent of a young boy. His remorse was so great that he sought Gandhi’s counsel. The latter advised the man to take the boy and provide a home for him. Furthermore, he should raise him as a Muslim.
Many wars have been fought over religious convictions, but such wars are contrary to genuine religious spirit. In today’s reading from Acts of the Apostles, Philip brings the gospel to Samaria, to a people despised by the Jews and yet viewed in a very positive way by Christ himself. These apostolic efforts were crowned with success, with the church experiencing continued growth in Samaria.
In John’s Gospel today, we have the beginning of Christ’s bread of life discourse. Three themes are highlighted. First, to come to Christ is to find an inexhaustible source of food and nourishment. Second, it is the will of Christ that none of those committed to him by the Father be lost. Finally, Christ is the pledge of eternal life. In this passage, Christ is not speaking explicitly of the Eucharist. The bread of life is Jesus himself; in his life and his teaching he is the true bread of life.
There are people today who identify themselves as Christians because they have been baptized. But that says far too little. There is the need for an ongoing catechesis following baptism, coupled with a true sense of commitment. The bread of life must take deep root within us.
In most major endeavours today, education must be ongoing. With our faith it can be no different. If it can be said that to know is to love, then to know more should mean to love more. Christ wants to lose none of us. But are we willing to lose him? The quality of our love gives the answer.
Blessing
“I was hungry and you gave me to eat. I was thirsty and you gave me to drink,” says Jesus. May you always keep recognizing Jesus in the needy, with the blessing of Almighty God, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen!