They cannot be taught if their hearts are not open, they cannot be taught who are not open to learn…..
The gospel makes it clear that Jesus himself is to be the teacher…. God teaches the disciples personally……… if only we are open to receive the lesson……
It has been said, that for John’s gospel, there is only one real sin…… and that is unbelief……. all other sins are capable of receiving God’s grace and forgiveness and renewal………. but refusing to believe cannot be forgiven because it prevents the formation of relationship with the God from whom grace and forgiveness flow….
The grumbling of the people in this gospel today, is an echo of of the grumbling that occurred in the wilderness when the people grumbled against God and against Moses…. they were short of food and tired and hungry and were regretting putting their faith and hope in God and his servant moses.
God gave the people manna in the desert to sustain them…..
In this gospel passage, the grumbling people get Jesus, the bread of life……..
but unlike the wilderness experience…. Jesus gives them eternal life….. not just short term satisfaction…
It is good, n the face of this gospel for each of us to ask ourselves some important questions….
• are there things about our lives //or about how we stand with God // that are a source of grumbling or discontent. Are there aspects of our lives where we are tempted to lose heart and not trust in the goodness and faithfulness of God and that God does care about us,… does want the best for us…… does want us to thrive.. and experience eternal life…. to the full…
• In what ways might we be invited to more open…. more willing to learn from God….. How might we allow an even more open attitude to being taught by God…… // as with any student/ teacher relationship….. we can learn the most if we are willing to put aside our preconceptions, and be challenged and look at things in a new way… in ways different from the usual attitudes and approaches we have habitually taken….
• We can believe that God is continually at work, trying to sustain us in our needs….. like the way God sent an angel to Elijah to touch him and give him a simple scone and water… to sustain him on his difficult journey to the mountain of God…….. I believe that, in many ways, God sends us angels…. people… events…. opportunities…. meant to sustain and nurture and encourage us…….
• the challenge is for us, to accept the gifts and graces and small miracles of daily life…… when and where they occur…. for the converse if not always true…. God does not always answer our requests and demands in the time and way that we might hope… and this can tempt us to grumble or complain or lose hope…. but God does send us what we need, and most importantly he gives himself to us, to strengthen our life journey…
The people in jesus time grumbled, because they doubted Jesus assurance that he would be with them in a real and tangible way….. as the bread of life….. as the cup of eternal salvation……………. but actually, is it such a difficult thing to believe…….
There is a saying in the bible…. God spoke and it was created…. So its not so hard to believe that jesus, at the last supper said to his disciples…. I want to give you something that will make me present to you in a real way..,… so… I am saying to you…. Everytime you eat this bread and drink this cup….. you are receiving me… you are encountering me….. I guarantee it….. and why could not Jesus do that… why would he not do it….. and of course.. this is what he did….. let us pray that each time we receive Jesus in the Eucharist… it will strengthen us to live as Christ in the world….
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