“I am the Bread of Life”. In John, Jesus replaces the institutions of Israel. He is not only the definite self-revelation of God. In him is also summed up all the good things that God wants for those who love him. For the 18th Sunday of OT (Year B), we read John 6:24-35 together with the Manna incident in Exodus 16. The manna that nourished the Israelites in their desert sojourn is a sign that pointed to Christ (CCC 1094).
Relevant Links
- (John 6:24-35) The Bread that Remains unto Eternal Life
- Live As You Were Taught in Christ (Ephesians 4:17-24)
- Bread of Life Discourse: Johanine Legitimization
- Bread from Heaven or Bread of Heaven? The Bread of Life Discourse of John 6 within its Historical Setting A PDF copy is also available.
Guide for Reading the Text
1. After making your sentence flow, divide the text into smaller sections. Most of the text is a conversation between Jesus and the “crowd”; a question and the response to it would make up one segment. Try to summarize the content of one conversational segment into one sentence.
2. Read these articles regarding Jewish expectations.
3. Take note of the following words and phrases
- “from heaven” similar to “from above” and reflects the “above-below” language used by Jesus
- the contrast between “food that perishes” and “food that remains to eternal life” is similar to the contrast Jesus employs in the case of the water at the Samaritan woman’s well in John 4
- “to believe in the one whom God has sent” see similar verses in John 3:15; 17:3.8
- the citation in verse 31 is from Psalm 78:24. See also Exodus 16:13 and Wisdom 16:30
4. Below are references to John 6:24-35 in the Catechism
- 6:27
- CCC 698
- CCC 728
- CCC 1298
- 6:32
- CCC 1094
- 6:33
- CCC 423
Comparing the Readings
The reading from Ex. 16 is about the manna incident which is recalled in the Gospel selection. The grumbling of the Israelites will also be the issue in the Johanine discourse of the Bread of Life. The Jews and then the disciples will be grumbling against the Lord too.
“Manna” literally means “What is it?”. Moses identifies it for those asking the question: “This is the bread that the Lord has given you to eat.” Psalm 78 is the cultic celebration of the manna incident. The bread that the Israelites ate in the desert is described as “heavenly bread” and “bread of angels”.
In the gospel selection from John 6:24-35 we have Jesus explaining the meaning of the sign of the feeding of the multitude (John 6:1-15). He is the Bread of Life, both in his teachings and in the bread that he offers for food. Both these elements — teaching and bread — occupy the two parts of our Eucharistic celebration.
The selection from Ephesians 4 (the second reading) can be taken as a practical consequence of the privilege of being able to eat the bread of angels. To be noted is the centrality of “Christ” in Paul’s moral exhortation. One should live according to the baptism received, according to the new self that God has created in Christ, and not according to the lifestyle of one’s former life.
Suggestions for the Lesson
There are at least three ways to bring out a lesson from the selections given for the 18th Sunday of OT.
1. One can concentrate on the second reading from Ephesians taking it as the consequence of receiving the Lord in communion. We who have been baptized have received a new self created by God in Christ. This new self — like a baby — is nourished by the bread of angels until it grows to maturity.
2. One can also concentrate on the Gospel reading and point out two things: (a) Jesus’ admonition that one should not work for food that perish, but for food that remains unto eternal life. (b) There is only one work that God requires: that one believe in Christ, the one He has sent. To believe in Christ is to believe in His words. When he says “I am the Bread of Life”, then one will have to show that belief by participating in the Table of the Lord. The Eucharist is the source and climax of the Christian life. The ethical consequence of this is hinted at in the second reading.
3. One can concentrate on the word of Jesus in v. 35 “I am the Bread of Life”, and use it as a launch pad for a catechism on the Eucharist.
24When therefore the multitude saw that Jesus was not there, nor his disciples, they took shipping, and came to Capharnaum, seeking for Jesus.
25And when they had found him on the other side of the sea, they said to him: Rabbi, when camest thou hither?
26Jesus answered them, and said: Amen, amen I say to you, you seek me, not because you have seen miracles, but because you did eat of the loaves, and were filled.
27Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that which endureth unto life everlasting, which the Son of man will give you. For him hath God, the Father, sealed.
28They said therefore unto him: What shall we do, that we may work the works of God?
29Jesus answered, and said to them: This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he hath sent.
30They said therefore to him: What sign therefore dost thou shew, that we may see, and may believe thee? What dost thou work?
31Our fathers did eat manna in the desert, as it is written: He gave them bread from heaven to eat.
32Then Jesus said to them: Amen, amen I say to you; Moses gave you not bread from heaven, but my Father giveth you the true bread from heaven.
33For the bread of God is that which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life to the world.
34They said therefore unto him: Lord, give us always this bread.
35And Jesus said to them: I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall not hunger: and he that believeth in me shall never thirst.
24When therefore the multitude saw that Jesus was not there, nor his disciples, they took shipping, and came to Capharnaum, seeking for Jesus.
25And when they had found him on the other side of the sea, they said to him: Rabbi, when camest thou hither?
26Jesus answered them, and said: Amen, amen I say to you, you seek me, not because you have seen miracles, but because you did eat of the loaves, and were filled.
27Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that which endureth unto life everlasting, which the Son of man will give you. For him hath God, the Father, sealed.
28They said therefore unto him: What shall we do, that we may work the works of God?
29Jesus answered, and said to them: This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he hath sent.
30They said therefore to him: What sign therefore dost thou shew, that we may see, and may believe thee? What dost thou work?
31Our fathers did eat manna in the desert, as it is written: He gave them bread from heaven to eat.
32Then Jesus said to them: Amen, amen I say to you; Moses gave you not bread from heaven, but my Father giveth you the true bread from heaven.
33For the bread of God is that which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life to the world.
34They said therefore unto him: Lord, give us always this bread.
35And Jesus said to them: I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall not hunger: and he that believeth in me shall never thirst.
17This then I say and testify in the Lord: That henceforward you walk not as also the Gentiles walk in the vanity of their mind,
18Having their understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their hearts.
19Who despairing, have given themselves up to lasciviousness, unto the working of all uncleanness, unto the working of all uncleanness, unto covetousness.
20But you have not so learned Christ;
21If so be that you have heard him, and have been taught in him, as the truth is in Jesus:
22To put off, according to former conversation, the old man, who is corrupted according to the desire of error.
23And be renewed in the spirit of your mind:
24And put on the new man, who according to God is created in justice and holiness of truth.
30They said therefore to him: What sign therefore dost thou shew, that we may see, and may believe thee? What dost thou work?
31Our fathers did eat manna in the desert, as it is written: He gave them bread from heaven to eat.
32Then Jesus said to them: Amen, amen I say to you; Moses gave you not bread from heaven, but my Father giveth you the true bread from heaven.
33For the bread of God is that which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life to the world.
34They said therefore unto him: Lord, give us always this bread.
35And Jesus said to them: I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall not hunger: and he that believeth in me shall never thirst.
315That whosoever believeth in him, may not perish; but may have life everlasting.
173Now this is eternal life: That they may know thee, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.
24And had rained down manna upon them to eat, and had given them the bread of heaven.
13So it came to pass in the evening, that quails coming up, covered the camp: and in the morning, a dew lay round about the camp.
24When therefore the multitude saw that Jesus was not there, nor his disciples, they took shipping, and came to Capharnaum, seeking for Jesus.
25And when they had found him on the other side of the sea, they said to him: Rabbi, when camest thou hither?
26Jesus answered them, and said: Amen, amen I say to you, you seek me, not because you have seen miracles, but because you did eat of the loaves, and were filled.
27Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that which endureth unto life everlasting, which the Son of man will give you. For him hath God, the Father, sealed.
28They said therefore unto him: What shall we do, that we may work the works of God?
29Jesus answered, and said to them: This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he hath sent.
30They said therefore to him: What sign therefore dost thou shew, that we may see, and may believe thee? What dost thou work?
31Our fathers did eat manna in the desert, as it is written: He gave them bread from heaven to eat.
32Then Jesus said to them: Amen, amen I say to you; Moses gave you not bread from heaven, but my Father giveth you the true bread from heaven.
33For the bread of God is that which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life to the world.
34They said therefore unto him: Lord, give us always this bread.
35And Jesus said to them: I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall not hunger: and he that believeth in me shall never thirst.
24When therefore the multitude saw that Jesus was not there, nor his disciples, they took shipping, and came to Capharnaum, seeking for Jesus.
25And when they had found him on the other side of the sea, they said to him: Rabbi, when camest thou hither?
26Jesus answered them, and said: Amen, amen I say to you, you seek me, not because you have seen miracles, but because you did eat of the loaves, and were filled.
27Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that which endureth unto life everlasting, which the Son of man will give you. For him hath God, the Father, sealed.
28They said therefore unto him: What shall we do, that we may work the works of God?
29Jesus answered, and said to them: This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he hath sent.
30They said therefore to him: What sign therefore dost thou shew, that we may see, and may believe thee? What dost thou work?
31Our fathers did eat manna in the desert, as it is written: He gave them bread from heaven to eat.
32Then Jesus said to them: Amen, amen I say to you; Moses gave you not bread from heaven, but my Father giveth you the true bread from heaven.
33For the bread of God is that which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life to the world.
34They said therefore unto him: Lord, give us always this bread.
35And Jesus said to them: I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall not hunger: and he that believeth in me shall never thirst.
1After these things Jesus went over the sea of Galilee, which is that of Tiberias.
2And a great multitude followed him, because they saw the miracles which he did on them that were diseased.
3Jesus therefore went up into a mountain, and there he sat with his disciples.
4Now the pasch, the festival day of the Jews, was near at hand.
5When Jesus therefore had lifted up his eyes, and seen that a very great multitude cometh to him, he said to Philip: Whence shall we buy bread, that these may eat?
6And this he said to try him; for he himself knew what he would do.
7Philip answered him: Two hundred pennyworth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one may take a little.
8One of his disciples, Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter, saith to him:
9There is a boy here that hath five barley loaves, and two fishes; but what are these among so many?
10Then Jesus said: Make the men sit down. Now there was much grass in the place. The men therefore sat down, in number about five thousand.
11And Jesus took the loaves: and when he had given thanks, he distributed to them that were set down. In like manner also of the fishes, as much as they would.
12And when they were filled, he said to his disciples: Gather up the fragments that remain, lest they be lost.
13They gathered up therefore, and filled twelve baskets with the fragments of the five barley loaves, which remained over and above to them that had eaten.
14Now those men, when they had seen what a miracle Jesus had done, said: This is of a truth the prophet, that is to come into the world.
15Jesus therefore, when he knew that they would come to take him by force, and make him king, fled again into the mountain himself alone.
CCC 1094
¶1094 It is on this harmony of the two Testaments that the Paschal catechesis of the Lord is built, and then, that of the Apostles and the Fathers of the Church. This catechesis unveils what lay hidden under the letter of the Old Testament: the mystery of Christ. It is called "typological" because it reveals the newness of Christ on the basis of the "figures" (types) which announce him in the deeds, words, and symbols of the first covenant. By this re-reading in the Spirit of Truth, starting from Christ, the figures are unveiled. Thus the flood and Noah's ark prefigured salvation by Baptism, as did the cloud and the crossing of the Red Sea. Water from the rock was the figure of the spiritual gifts of Christ, and manna in the desert prefigured the Eucharist, "the true bread from heaven."
CCC 698
¶698 The seal is a symbol close to that of anointing. "The Father has set his seal" on Christ and also seals us in him. Because this seal indicates the indelible effect of the anointing with the Holy Spirit in the sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation, and Holy Orders, the image of the seal (sphragis) has been used in some theological traditions to express the indelible "character" imprinted by these three unrepeatable sacraments.
CCC 728
¶728 Jesus does not reveal the Holy Spirit fully, until he himself has been glorified through his Death and Resurrection. Nevertheless, little by little he alludes to him even in his teaching of the multitudes, as when he reveals that his own flesh will be food for the life of the world. He also alludes to the Spirit in speaking to Nicodemus, to the Samaritan woman, and to those who take part in the feast of Tabernacles. To his disciples he speaks openly of the Spirit in connection with prayer and with the witness they will have to bear.
CCC 1298
¶1298 When Confirmation is celebrated separately from Baptism, as is the case in the Roman Rite, the Liturgy of Confirmation begins with the renewal of baptismal promises and the profession of faith by the confirmands. This clearly shows that Confirmation follows Baptism. When adults are baptized, they immediately receive Confirmation and participate in the Eucharist.
CCC 1094
¶1094 It is on this harmony of the two Testaments that the Paschal catechesis of the Lord is built, and then, that of the Apostles and the Fathers of the Church. This catechesis unveils what lay hidden under the letter of the Old Testament: the mystery of Christ. It is called "typological" because it reveals the newness of Christ on the basis of the "figures" (types) which announce him in the deeds, words, and symbols of the first covenant. By this re-reading in the Spirit of Truth, starting from Christ, the figures are unveiled. Thus the flood and Noah's ark prefigured salvation by Baptism, as did the cloud and the crossing of the Red Sea. Water from the rock was the figure of the spiritual gifts of Christ, and manna in the desert prefigured the Eucharist, "the true bread from heaven."
CCC 423
¶423 We believe and confess that Jesus of Nazareth, born a Jew of a daughter of Israel at Bethlehem at the time of King Herod the Great and the emperor Caesar Augustus, a carpenter by trade, who died crucified in Jerusalem under the procurator Pontius Pilate during the reign of the emperor Tiberius, is the eternal Son of God made man. He 'came from God', 'descended from heaven', and 'came in the flesh'. For 'the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, full of grace and truth; we have beheld his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father. . . And from his fullness have we all received, grace upon grace.
Tags: Bread, Johannine Literature, manna
Posted by angfrayle
Johannine Literature, The Sunday Lectionary
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