I am sure many of you have been in places where little children believe that they are in desperate need of an ice cream or lolly and insistently demand that they receive their ‘well founded’ request immediately.

Today’s gospel reminds me of just such children. The noisy, demanding crowd are asking for certainty before they will accept Jesus. The crowds were oppressed within the structure of their society, but they seemed unwilling to step out in faith until they had certainty. All through the gospels we hear of people’s complacency and unwillingness to step out in faith.

There is nothing about belief here. They demand certainty. What will you do for us? Give us certainty, then we might follow you. Complacency is the enemy of faith and belief.

The people had many opportunities to understand and believe in the message of Jesus. He shared many profound insights into the compassionate love being offered by God but the ‘I focused’ crowd, always demanded more. What’s in it for me?

The ‘bread’ that he was offering was not like bread that sustains only the body, like the manna that sustained their ancestors in the desert. No, what he was offering was nourishment to feed and lift their spirits. He was offering insight into the compassionate and loving God who journeys with them throughout their lives.

This ‘bread’ would strengthen them in their lifes’ journey because they would come to know that God desires to be in relationship with them. That God was not just a god of law but of love. 

Perhaps our mantra today could be ‘Let your word nourish my being.’

by Sr Anne Surtees osu