Gospel: John 6:24-35
At that time, when the people saw that Jesus was not there, nor his disciples, they got into the boats and went to Capernaum, seeking Jesus. When they found him on the shore of the sea, they said to him: “Rabbi, when did you come here?” Jesus answered them: “Truly, truly, I say to you: you are seeking me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate of the loaves and were filled. Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that remains for eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you; for on him the Father, God, has set his seal.” They said to him: “What must we do, to work the works of God?” Jesus answered them: “This is the work of God: that you believe in him whom he has sent.” They then said to him: “What sign do you do, that we may see and believe you? What work do you perform? Our ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written: ‘He gave them bread from heaven.'” Jesus responded: “Truly, truly, I say to you: it was not Moses who gave you the bread from heaven; it is my Father who gives you the true bread from heaven; for the bread of God is the one who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” 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.”

Fruit: Seek in my life the nourishment that truly satisfies the soul.

Guidelines for reflection:
Jesus Christ shows us that above hunger and thirst for satisfaction, there is the food that nourishes the soul, what truly sustains our lives and strengthens us against any disorder, temptation, or departure from the truth.

1. The need for nourishment
A few verses earlier, Saint John narrated the passage of the multiplication of the loaves: Jesus Christ preached extensively to the crowd, and then, aware of human needs, he fed them abundantly. He gave them so much bread that they gathered the leftovers and filled 12 baskets. We need to be nourished, and it pains us to see so many malnourished children, who go hungry, even in our own city. The Church cares about meeting this need. Many people collaborate with various organizations and apostolates that carry out acts of Christian charity and social action. But we must not lose sight that, even in this humanitarian work, human hunger goes beyond.

2. The lasting food
Jesus Christ, in the Gospel, reminds us of this reality: the body needs to be fed, but even more so, the soul needs nourishment. We are body and soul, and if we are not fully developed, if we do not let both grow… Physically, a person’s two legs grow at the same time; poor man, who would have one leg of 60 centimeters and another of 40! Similarly, our soul must grow, just as our body develops. But what food can we give it? Jesus answers us: the bread of God, which is he himself—the one who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world. Our soul develops and grows when we receive Christ in communion, when we let him enter during prayer, when we welcome him by loving our brothers, when we joyfully witness to a Christianity lived with love and generosity.

3. Lord, give me always that bread
The Gospel concludes with a beautiful petition: Lord, give us that bread always. The nourishment for the soul has two components: it is the fruit of our work, our search, our personal asceticism, but it is also a grace from God, a gift we must ask for every day. Lord, give me your grace, nourish my soul and heart, make me grow in love for you and others. As the classic Spanish saying goes, “Pray to God and hit him with the hammer.”

Purpose: I will ask God, in moments of prayer at the start of the day: Lord, nourish my soul with your grace.