Open Market in Jerusalem
John 6:35-40
If we are really honest with ourselves, there have been times over the past year that we all went a bit stir-crazy. I mean, we love our family, would do anything for them. But there have been times when we all got on each other’s nerves, no matter how much we love each other. Our tempers and our patience have been in short supply. And each day seems much like the previous one. I sometimes wonder how much of this anxiety and short-temper have been due to a lack of spiritual nourishment. None of us had ever been separated from the Eucharist for this long of a time.
Today’s Gospel tells us that Jesus is the Bread of Life, our source of spiritual food and eternal life. Whoever comes to Him will never hunger and never thirst.
The number of Masses in our parishes remains limited and, for many of us, the reluctance to venture out for any length of time is high. We are all famished; we are all struggling with a hunger for the Eucharist. And we are probably taking out that hunger, taking out that parched thirst, on the ones we love, our family! But Jesus reminds us at the end of today’s Gospel – everyone who sees the Son and believes will have eternal life. So while our reception of the Eucharist remains limited, we are still called to see Jesus in each other. We are all called to set aside our impatience, our short tempers, and see Jesus in our family and to be Jesus to them.
Not so easy, I know. But maybe we could set aside some time each day for a simple family activity, whether it’s to play a silly game or perhaps to bake some bread – that seems rather appropriate for today! Forget about the argument from yesterday or the meltdown from this morning. Forget about the mess you might make, forget about the cleanup! Just work together, play together and, in the process, maybe see Jesus in each other!