In the Gospel of John, Chapter 6, Jesus makes a profound declaration that has echoed through the ages: “I am the bread of life.” These words, rich with spiritual significance, invite us to delve deeper into our relationship with Christ and understand the transformative power of His presence in our lives.

When Jesus proclaims Himself as the bread of life, He’s presenting Himself as the ultimate nourishment for our souls, the very essence of spiritual vitality. Just as bread is a staple food that sustains our physical bodies, Jesus is the staple of our spiritual diet, providing the strength, guidance, and love we need to thrive in our faith journey.

However, it’s all too easy for us to take these words for granted. We might nod in agreement during Sunday sermons or recite these verses from memory without grasping their implications for our daily lives? It’s not enough to simply acknowledge Jesus as the bread of life; we must actively partake of what He offers.

Attending church on Sundays and receiving communion are important practices, but they’re just the beginning. To truly allow Jesus to be the bread of our lives, we must invite Him into every aspect of our existence. We must let His teachings guide our decisions, His love shape our relationships, and His sacrifice inspire our service to others.

To illustrate this point, consider the following story:

The parking lot filled rapidly on Sunday morning as members of the congregation filed into church. As usually happens in church, each member had developed a certain comfort zone, a block of space within those four church walls that became theirs after the second or third sitting.

One morning a stranger stood at the edge of the parking lot near a dumpster. As families parked cars and piled out, they noticed him rummaging through the trash. “Oh no! I don’t believe it,” whispered a lady to her husband. “That’s all we need, a bunch of homeless people milling around here.”

One worried little girl tugged on her dad’s sleeve. Daddy was busy sizing up the bearded stranger, whose faded flannel shirt and outdated baggy trousers had dusted too many park benches.

“Don’t stare at him, honey,” he whispered, and hurried her inside church. Soft music filled the high-ceiling sanctuary as church-goers settled into their usual spots. The choir sang an opening chorus, “In His presence there is comfort…in His presence there is peace…”

Sunlight suddenly flooded the center aisle. The double doors swung open and the homeless man, sloppy and stooped, headed toward the front. “Oh no, it’s him” somebody muttered.

The stranger set his bagful of dumpster treasures on the very first pew. The music stopped. And before anyone had a chance to react, he ambled up the steps and stood behind the podium, where he faced a wide-eyed congregation.

The disheveled stranger spoke haltingly at first, in a low, clear voice. Unbuttoning and removing his top layer of clothing, he described Jesus, and the love He has for all people.

“Jesus possesses sensitivity and love that far surpasses what any of us deserves.” Stepping out of the baggy old trousers, the stranger went on to describe a forgiveness that is available to each and every one of us…without strings attached.

“Unconditionally He loves us. Unconditionally He gave His very life for us. In Jesus, there is always hope.”

“You see, my friends, it is never too late to change,” the man continued. “He is the Author of change, and the Provider of forgiveness. He came to bring new meaning to your lives.”

Men and women squirmed as reality hit them like an electrical current. The stranger tugged at his knotted gray beard, and removed it. “I’m here to tell you that we are loved with a love far beyond human understanding, a love that enables us to accept and love others in return.” Then tenderly he added, “Let’s pray together.”

That wise pastor – under the guise of a homeless ‘nobody,’ did not preach a sermon that day, but every person left with plenty to think about.

Jesus says, “Follow me.” 

These two words encapsulate the essence of Christian discipleship. When we choose to follow Jesus, we’re not just agreeing with a set of beliefs. We’re committing to a lifestyle that mirrors His own.

Accepting Jesus as the bread of life means embracing His teachings and embodying His example in our daily lives. It’s about showing love and compassion to those around us, even when it’s difficult. It’s about loving one another as He has loved us.

So today, let’s renew our commitment to Jesus the Bread of Life. Let’s allow His life to be the blueprint for our own, trusting that as we do so, we’ll find the spiritual nourishment our souls desperately need. He is the Bread of Life, and in Him, we will never go hungry.

—Fr. Hugh Duffy, Ph.D.