The bread of God is that which comes down from heaven and gives life to the world

16 APRIL (Jn 6,30-35)

The Jews understand the “gravity” of the words of Jesus. He asks them for an exclusive and without reservation faith. What was must be abandoned. They must open to the new of his works and of his Person. What for them was valued to this day must give way to his word. No tradition, no way of being and operating will remain intact. Everything must crumble before the faith in Him.

Here is their answer to Jesus, “What sign can you do, so that we see and believe you? What can you do? Our fathers ate the manna in the desert, as it is written: He gave them bread from heaven to eat.” Well, Jesus, you want to be granted a faith far greater than the one given to Moses up to now, which for us is the greatest, it is the unsurpassable – the Scripture itself, the sacred text says it: “And there arose no more in Israel a prophet like Moses, who knew the Lord face to face, for all the signs and wonders that the Lord had sent him to do in the land of Egypt, against Pharaoh, against all his servants and against all his land, and for the mighty hand, and the great terror with which Moses had operated in the sight of all Israel” (Deut. 34.10-12) – it is necessary for you to perform greater works than Him.

Who wants greater, universal, exclusive and unique faith to be granted him must also do greater, more universal, exclusive and unique works. Show us your works and we will tell you what our faith will be. In some ways it is the same argument made by St. James the Apostle in his letter, even if in another perspective: “What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister has nothing to wear and has no food for the day, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, keep warm, and eat well,” but you do not give them the necessities of the body, what good is it? So also faith of itself, if it does not have works, is dead. Indeed someone might say, “You have faith and I have works.” Demonstrate your faith to me without works, and I will demonstrate my faith to you from my works.'” (James 2:14-18). Show yourself in works greater than Moses and instantly we will grant you our faith. If yours are just words, no one will ever grant faith in words. He would be a fool who should do it.

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.” So 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 hunger, and whoever believes in me will never thirst.

Jesus accepts the challenge, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, it was not Moses who gave you the bread from heaven, but it is my Father who gives you the bread from heaven, the true one. For the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” The one of Moses was a bread that came down from the air, not from heaven. It came from the frost, not from the bosom of my Father. It was a bread of matter, not a bread the spirit. The bread of God is not a thing, a matter, some seeds like coriander to be ground, kneaded, baked. The bread of God is a person. It is the only Person who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world. This is an essential step. Here we pass from the inanimate matter that nourishes the body, to a real, true and alive person that comes from the bosom of the Father, from God.

The Jews accept this bread: “Lord, always give us this bread.” Jesus’ answer leaves them breathless, “I am the bread of life: he that comes to me shall never hunger, and whoever believes in me will never thirst.” Jesus offers himself to them as true bread of life. He who comes to Him will never hunger. Whoever believes in him will not thirst, never! Jesus is preached as the only one who can solve the problem of man: that of his hunger and his thirst. Currently, however, the language remains highly symbolic and figurative. Jesus has not yet gone to his true reality, to the full truth. He is the solution.

Virgin Mary, Mother of the Redemption, Angels and Saints teach us to believe in Jesus.