Oh My, Tinapay!

First Reading: Ex 16:2-4, 12-15

The whole Israelite community grumbled against Moses and Aaron. The Israelites said to them, "Would that we had died at the LORD's hand in the land of Egypt, as we sat by our fleshpots and ate our fill of bread! But you had to lead us into this desert to make the whole community die of famine!"

Then the LORD said to Moses, "I will now rain down bread from heaven for you. Each day the people are to go out and gather their daily portion; thus will I test them, to see whether they follow my instructions or not. "I have heard the grumbling of the Israelites. Tell them: In the evening twilight you shall eat flesh, and in the morning you shall have your fill of bread, so that you may know that I, the LORD, am your God."

In the evening quail came up and covered the camp. In the morning a dew lay all about the camp, and when the dew evaporated, there on the surface of the desert were fine flakes like hoarfrost on the ground. On seeing it, the Israelites asked one another, "What is this?" for they did not know what it was. But Moses told them, "This is the bread that the LORD has given you to eat."

Responsorial Psalm: Ps 78:3-4, 23-24, 25, 54

Second Reading: Eph 4:17, 20-24

Brothers and sisters:

I declare and testify in the Lord that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their minds; that is not how you learned Christ, assuming that you have heard of him and were taught in him, as truth is in Jesus, that you should put away the old self of your former way of life, corrupted through deceitful desires, and be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and put on the new self, created in God's way in righteousness and holiness of truth.

Gospel: Jn 6:24-35

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." So they said to him, "What sign can you do, that we may see and believe in you? What can you do? Our ancestors ate manna in the desert, as it is written: He gave them bread from heaven to eat.? So Jesus said to them, "Amen, amen, I say to you, it was not Moses who gave the bread from heaven; my Father 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."

Reflection

By Fidji Rivera-Sarmiento

Do you love bread? I.SO.MUCH.DO!!! You know that aroma of pan de sal slowly toasting, especially if it’s from a pugon oven? Oh heaven! Sometimes I think that heaven must have smelled like a bakery at 5:30 AM. I really love bread in its simplicity, nothing on top or in between, no butter or cheese spread, no coldcuts, no balsamic vinegar and garlic oil dips, just that warm bare bread. By bread, for me, that could be a bulilit pan de sal from Fernando’s, or the putok from our favorite no name bakery here in Baliuag, or the really soft brioche bread from Max’s (sans the cheese, sugar, and butter), or just a simple slice of white or wheat loaf bread, or a Chinese mantou without the asado filling… Oh, and that bagel out of the microwave, or a freshly baked baguette, or the plain pretzel at French baker... (Now if only I could stop naming my favorites; did I make you hungry?) I’d like to think that I’m a bread kind of gal, not cakes really, and I do carbo-load once in a while. (Oops!) With a good cup of coffee, I’m a happy camper, just the bread and me. 

So when the Lord said that He is the Bread of Life, I cannot help but compare how the simple monay can satisfy my cravings, and how the Lord’s Words nourish my hungry spirit. It is an instantaneous sustenance for my soul. The Lord’s promises bring about joy and hope to my heart. I have read somewhere that when you are at your lowest, and you got absolutely nothing but God’s grace, that’s when an inexplicable joy inundates your spirit. You become a child again. Free of despair, of hatred, and of loneliness.

We don’t even have to ask Him to come to us. Jesus had already offered Himself to the table for all of us to partake. This, we can do by immersing ourselves daily in His Word, by serving others, by simply being kind to everyone you meet, by planting peace and not discord, by realizing that He, the Bread of Life, is enough.

Now ask yourself:

1. Do I complain a lot like the Israelites?

2. Do I still ask God for signs and miracles before I fully believe and trust His power?

3. Do I prioritize working and slaving myself for “perishable food” rather than seeking the “food that gives eternal life”?

Prayer

Father, thank You for giving us Jesus, our Bread of Life! Amen.*Tip from a bread girl: Warm bread in the microwave with a cup of water, or a damp paper towel, in 10 second increments till desired texture. The steam prevents it from hardening. Now you have goodness in a plate that’s not toasted or soggy. Enjoy!