Filled Up With Bread

"Do a miracle, and we'll believe in you," a crowd told Jesus. "Moses gave starving people bread from heaven, once. What can you do?" Jesus answered: "Only God gives bread from heaven. God sent me - I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me and believes in me will never be hungry or thirsty."

If you know anyone who came from another country and had to learn English, they will tell you it's a confusing language. 

The word "bark," for example, can mean the noise a dog makes or the covering on a tree!

Words can also be confusing even in a language you speak well. In this week's Gospel (John 6:24-35), Jesus' listeners could easily be confused by what He's trying to teach about "bread."

To most people, the word "bread" means something you eat - and, since the Gospel story takes place right after Jesus does a miracle and feeds 5,000 people with a little bit of bread, everyone assumes He's still talking about the bread you eat.

But "bread" can also have a bigger meaning: It can be a symbol for anything you eat. In the Gospel story, Jesus talks about Himself as "the bread of life." He doesn't mean He's made out of bread! 

Jesus means that, like bread is a basic food that fills you up, God is a basic need for everyone. If Jesus' listeners follow His teachings about being good people and treating others well, they will be "filled up" with God.

Again, Jesus doesn't mean people will never be hungry or thirsty for food. He means that being close to God is as satisfying as the way you feel after a good meal.

A piece of bread won't fill you up for long. Getting filled with the "bread of life" will fill your spirit up forever!

(07/30/09)