To See if they Obey My Law
Exodus 6:2-4, 12-15
Psalm 78:3-4, 23-25, 54
St John 6:24-35
This week I find myself in the enviable position of getting to write a second reflection on the Bread of Life discourses in St. John chapter 6. But this section of the discourse has an element that we do not usually look at, and it is a theme that runs through all of our texts this week.
In Exodus 16:4, God tells Moses that he will send Manna to feed the Israelites, and he explains why "To discover if they will walk in my Law or not." The gift of Manna is surrounded by instructions: take only what the day requires, do not gather on the Sabbath. God desires to know if His people will honor the gift of sustenance which He has given. Will we give in to greed? Will we give in to anxiety? Will we be obedient to the Divine Law handed down? Will we rely on God for our daily bread?
The Psalmist carries this theme forward. God "opened the doors of Heaven" and "gave them bread from Heaven," so that "they were very filled." (Ps. 78:23, 24, 29) Note this well: they were very filled. Having been fed by God we have no more need, we are very filled. And yet, the Psalmist goes on to say, "they were not removed from their longing." (v. 30) Gluttony got the upper hand. Having been sated, we still desire more. We want to keep something back, to horde, not to trust that God will provide again tomorrow. We fail to believe the promise and so fail to "walk in my Law."
And what follows in John 6? Having eaten the miraculous bread of the Feeding of the Five Thousand, the crowds still follow Christ seeking bread, and he answers that "You ate the loaves and were filled." (v. 26) Our Lord then goes on to say "Work not for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures unto eternal life." (v. 27) Christ instructs them to "walk in my Law," and they correctly respond, "What shall we do that we might work the works of God?" in verse 28. Christ explains: "believe in him whom He hath sent." (v. 30)
To believe means to trust, to have faith, to be faithful. Not turning aside. Not "worrying about tomorrow, for each day brings its own troubles." Not to store up selfishly the sustenance, either physical or spiritual, which God provides us. Do not greedily keep back a portion of this food for tomorrow, because God will provide each day its daily bread. Therefore give generously of the spiritual life which God has given. Walk in God's Law. As St. Paul admonishes, examine your conscience that you do not partake of this great Bread of Life unworthily (I Cor. 11:28-29), lest God's anger fall upon you while the bread is still in your teeth (Ps. 78:30-31).
Trust in God and be faithful to him. Examine your conscience and return to God's Table daily, keeping nothing back. And remember that this is the Law of the Lord: to believe in the One He has sent (I Jn 3:23), and whoever comes to Him will never hunger (St. Jn 6:35).
Psalm 78:3-4, 23-25, 54
St John 6:24-35
This week I find myself in the enviable position of getting to write a second reflection on the Bread of Life discourses in St. John chapter 6. But this section of the discourse has an element that we do not usually look at, and it is a theme that runs through all of our texts this week.
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| Ethiopian Orthodox icon of the Last Supper |
The Psalmist carries this theme forward. God "opened the doors of Heaven" and "gave them bread from Heaven," so that "they were very filled." (Ps. 78:23, 24, 29) Note this well: they were very filled. Having been fed by God we have no more need, we are very filled. And yet, the Psalmist goes on to say, "they were not removed from their longing." (v. 30) Gluttony got the upper hand. Having been sated, we still desire more. We want to keep something back, to horde, not to trust that God will provide again tomorrow. We fail to believe the promise and so fail to "walk in my Law."
And what follows in John 6? Having eaten the miraculous bread of the Feeding of the Five Thousand, the crowds still follow Christ seeking bread, and he answers that "You ate the loaves and were filled." (v. 26) Our Lord then goes on to say "Work not for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures unto eternal life." (v. 27) Christ instructs them to "walk in my Law," and they correctly respond, "What shall we do that we might work the works of God?" in verse 28. Christ explains: "believe in him whom He hath sent." (v. 30)
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| The Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament |
Trust in God and be faithful to him. Examine your conscience and return to God's Table daily, keeping nothing back. And remember that this is the Law of the Lord: to believe in the One He has sent (I Jn 3:23), and whoever comes to Him will never hunger (St. Jn 6:35).
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