Bread Always

Do not work for the food 

that perishes, but for the

 food that endures for

eternal life, which the

Son of Man will give you.

 For it is on him that God

 the Father has set his

 seal.’ Then they said to 

him, ‘What must we do 

to perform the works of

 God?’ Jesus answered

 them, ‘This is the work

 of God, that you believe 

in him whom he has sent.’ 

So they said to him, ‘What

 sign are you going to 

give us then, so that we

 may see it and believe

you? What work are you performing? Our ancestors 

ate the manna in the 

wilderness; as it is written,

 “He gave them bread from heaven to eat.” ’ Then Jesus said to 

them, ‘Very truly, I tell you, it was not Moses who gave you the

 bread from heaven, but it is my Father who gives you the true 

bread from heaven. For the bread of God is that which comes

 down from heaven and gives life to the world.’ They said to

 him, ‘Sir, give us this bread always.’

 Jesus said to them, ‘I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to

 me will never be hungry, and whoever believes in me will

 never be thirsty. But I said to you that you have seen me and

 yet do not believe. Everything that the Father gives me will 

come to me, and anyone who comes to me I will never drive

 away; for I have come down from heaven, not to do my own 

will, but the will of him who sent me. And this is the will of him

 who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given

 me, but raise it up on the last day. This is indeed the will of my

 Father, that all who see the Son and believe in him may have

 eternal life; and I will raise them up on the last day.’ John

 6:27-40

We are in Paris for the consecration of the new Bishop of the American

churches in Europe and to bid farewell to our friend Pierre as he 

retires. There is bread everywhere here, and for a price you can

partake of some of the most delicious bread, rolls and sweets

imaginable. This place is a feast for the eyes and the stomach. We

did not miss the fact that there is a huge homeless population,

and despite the abundance there are many who go hungry.

The people who had seen or heard about the miracle of feeding the

5000 plus, wanted more signs and more miracles. Yet Jesus called

them to faith and service, promising that we would be filled by 

believing him and serving all the people around them. We too are 

invited to step out in faith and feed others.

Today, as we begin exploring new vistas, may we have our eyes and

hearts open to the world around us. May God's love fill us so that we

can provide sustenance for our world.