First Reading: Ex 16:2-4. 12-15; Psalm: 78. R. v. 24b; Second Reading: Eph 4:17. 20-24; Gospel: Jn 6:24-35
WHY GOD MANIFESTS SIGNS
BY FR VALENTINE NNAMDI EGBUONU, MSP
The gospel of today is a follow up to the gospel of the immediate past Sunday. Remember that the gospel of the immediate past Sunday was on the feeding of the five thousand. As this gospel narrative builds up, with the reactions and counter reactions of the crowd as seen in the gospel of today; the central message of this narrative becomes all the more obvious – God does not manifest a sign to draw us away from him. Hence, when God manifests his power through wondrous deeds, that very sign is only but a link to draw us close and not away from God the source and origin of every blessing.
Recall that in the gospel of the previous Sunday, as the crowd approached Jesus to listen to him, Jesus saw a famished crowd in need of something to eat. Obviously, God does more than we ask of him. For although the crowd desired to be with Jesus; Jesus seized that moment to kill two birds with a stone by satisfying their physical hunger which is only but a sign to lead them to the deeper reality – Christ the Bread of Life that satisfies our spiritual hunger forever. The sign is – from piece of bread five thousand men were fed. And the reality is – Christ (the source of this miracle) is the true bread that offers eternal life to the world.
But as we can see from the gospel of today, the crowd were more interested in the sign. For they came searching for Jesus not because of him the source of eternal life, but because of the bread that perishes. Hence, Jesus said, “I am the bread of life; he who comes to me shall not hunger, and he who believes in me shall never thirst.” The phrase “I AM” is the name of God given to Moses at the burning bush. So, this declaration of Jesus should ring a bell in the hearts of his listeners as it emphasises that Jesus is God who gives life to those who come to him. The miracle of the feeding of the five thousand should turn the hearts of the people to Jesus and not the contrary. For God does not manifest a sign to draw us away from him.
Similar deviation is seen in the first reading. The greatest crisis in the history of Israel is their slavery in Egypt; a tragic experience they prayed and hoped would come to an end. It finally came as God delivered them from the land of slavery through the hands of Moses. This remarkable event that manifests God’s mighty work especially the miracle of the Red Sea was enough to register an unwavering trust for God in the hearts of his people. But Israel grumbled at the slightest test of faith. Their hunger for food overwhelmed their trust in the God who saved and preserved their lives. In their murmuring they expressed sheer ingratitude as they yearned for the food of the land of slavery instead of turning to God the source of all blessings. Even when God fed them with bread from heaven Israel became more and more drawn away by their selfishness. When God manifests a sign, we should make no mistake about it. It is all about God and us and not us and the sign.
Our problem is not that God does not bless us; but that our responses to God’s blessings often end up revealing that we are not deserving of the same blessing. We want a well-paid job and prayed to God fervently for it. When the job finally comes, we suddenly become too busy to pray, too stingy to give, and too preoccupied to do the things of God. Most Christians today are after miracles and signs without a genuine desire to seek and to serve God. Could it be that sometimes why God is slow to give us what we ask for is because of our immaturity of faith to handle them rightly when they are given? When someone we love offers us gift, the gift may be so beautiful but essentially it communicates an invitation from the giver to strengthen the bond of friendship and love.
What is it that we have that was not given by God? And what do these gifts communicate to us about God? The beautiful gifts we enjoy must not overwhelm us to the extent that they rob us of our gratitude and recognition of the God who provides them. The blessings that we receive in life are just but expressions of God’s undying love. These blessings should not make us greedy but rather draw us closer to God in faith and trust. In the world’s perspective, the more we receive, the more we desire to acquire. But our gospel reading of today tells us that when we receive gifts from God, it is not so much about the gifts but about trusting in God the provider of these gifts.
PRAYER FOR THE DAY
Lord Jesus, increase our faith in you. May we not be carried away by the desire for material needs and lose sight of you our provider and God. Amen.
