Jesus the food of the Soul of the human being

Good morning, happy Wednesday and blessings.

In today’s Gospel (John 6;35-40) we see three of our Lord Jesus Christ's great sayings are strung together, like pearls, in this passage. Each of them ought to be precious to every true Christian. All taken together, they form a mine of truth, into which he that searches need never search in vain.

We have, first, in these verses, a saying of Christ about Himself. We read that Jesus said--"I am the bread of life--he that comes to me shall never hunger, and he that believes on me shall never thirst." Our Lord would have us know that He himself is the appointed food of man's soul. The soul of every man is naturally starving and famishing through sin. Christ is given by God the Father, to be the Satisfier, the Reliever, and the Physician of man's spiritual need. In Him and His mediatorial office--in Him and His atoning death--in Him and His priesthood--in Him and His grace, love, and power--in Him alone will empty souls find their needs supplied. In Him there is life. He is "the bread of life."

We have, secondly, in these verses, a saying of Christ about those who come to Him. We read that Jesus said--"Him that comes to me I will never cast out." What does "coming to Christ" mean? It means that movement of the soul which takes place when a someone, feeling his or her sins, and finding out that s/he cannot save herself or himself, hears of Christ, applies to Christ, trusts in Christ, lays hold on Christ, and leans all his or her weight on Christ for salvation. When this happens, a woman or a man is said, in Scripture language, to "come" to Christ. What did Jesus mean by saying--"I will never cast this person out"? He meant that He will not refuse to save anyone who comes to Him, no matter what that person may have been. His past sins may have been very great. This person weakness and infirmity may be very great. But does s/he come to Christ by faith? Then Christ will receive this person graciously, pardon her or him freely, place him or her in the number of His dear children, and give this person everlasting life.

We have, lastly, in these verses, a saying of Christ about the will of His Father. Twice overcome the solemn words--"This is the will of him that sent me." Once we are told it is His will, "that every one that sees the Son may have everlasting life." Once we are told it is His will that, "of all which he has given to Christ he shall lose nothing." We are taught by these words that Christ has brought into the world a salvation open and free to everyone.

Christ’s invitation is open to us today. He is the bread of life, and our partaking of the Lord’s Supper is a testimony to that fact. That Jesus is the bread of life, however, bears significance far beyond that -- it is a claim of Jesus’ fundamental live-giving relationship to the world.

Blessings

Fr. Luis+