Gospel JN 6:22-29
[After Jesus had fed the five thousand men, his disciples saw him walking on the sea.] The next day, the crowd that remained across the sea
saw that there had been only one boat there,
and that Jesus had not gone along with his disciples in the boat,
but only his disciples had left.
Other boats came from Tiberias
near the place where they had eaten the bread
when the Lord gave thanks.
When the crowd saw that neither Jesus nor his disciples were there,
they themselves got into boats
and came to Capernaum looking for Jesus.
And when they found him across the sea they said to him,
“Rabbi, when did you get here?”
Jesus answered them and said,
“Amen, amen, I say to you, you are looking for me
not because you saw signs
but because you ate the loaves and were filled.
Do not work for food that perishes
but for the food that endures for eternal life,
which the Son of Man will give you.
For on him the Father, God, has set his seal.”
So they said to him,
“What can we do to accomplish the works of God?”
Jesus answered and said to them,
“This is the work of God, that you believe in the one he sent.”
Reflection:
“They themselves got into the boats and came to Capernaum looking for Jesus.”
Why did they follow him across the sea, and what were they looking for?
Undoubtedly, as Jesus said, some were looking for bread.
But others may have yearned for virtues and values that they were not able to see within themselves. So, they came to Capernaum searching for Jesus.
We do good works, attend religious services, and read spiritual writings attempting to grow closer to God.
However, few people, when engaging in self-examination, list their positive attributes along with their failings. It seems our sins are constantly before us and we long for goodness.
So these people, who followed Jesus across the sea asked “What can we do to accomplish the works of God?”
Jesus answered by saying, “This is the work of God, that you believe in the one he sent.”
“Believe” Christ was sent to tell us that God loves us and forgives our sins. “Believe” that we cannot earn our way to heaven by good works or observance of religious rules or services. “Believe” that God sees the goodness in each of His children and they will gain Heaven through the sacrifice of His only Son, Jesus the Christ. “Believe” that God loves you, His creation, and that through His love and mercy, He will bring you home to Him.
“Jesus said to him, If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes” Mark 9:23