Food that Endures

Reading through the Gospel for today (Monday 4/19), there is one part that stands out to me.  “Jesus answered them and said, “Amen, amen, I say to you, you are looking for me not because you saw signs but because you ate the loaves and were filled.  Do not work for food that perishes but for the food that endures for eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you.” (John 6:26-27).  The crowd of people went looking for Jesus because they were fed by the loaves of bread and knew He could fulfill their physical hunger.  They were concerned with the temporary.  This scripture passage is a good opportunity to reflect on the hunger in our lives.

Throughout the seemingly ordinary days of our lives, we go to work so that we can provide earthly necessities such as food, clothing, housing, and other expenses we have and comforts we want to be able to enjoy.  These things allow us to fulfill our physical hunger and maintain our overall health and wellbeing.  What about our spiritual health?  Are we working for eternal life and allowing Jesus to satisfy the hunger that only He can?

We can eat all the food that we want until the point of being stuffed full.  We can buy all the material items we could ever want.  We can make all the money in the world.  After we fill up on these things, we will still be empty unless we seek Jesus and the truth of who He is.  When we experience hunger for things that can satisfy the body, we are able to easily meet that need by making a meal or going to the grocery store.  When it comes to satisfying our hearts and souls, the deepest parts of ourselves, we cannot do this on our own.  It is God alone who fulfills this spiritual hunger we have- the hunger for love and truth.

​Jesus offers us everything we need to have life within us.  When we go to Him, the deepest longing and hunger in our hearts are satisfied.  He nourishes and strengthens us in a way that nothing else can.  While we are filled by the food of this world temporarily, the food that He offers endures forever.  May every person come to know that Jesus is the bread of life that will sustain us always.