Every Word

Memorial of Saint Stanislaus, Bishop and Martyr

For we have heard him claim that this Jesus the Nazorean will destroy this place and change the customs that Moses handed down to us.” All those who sat in the Sanhedrin looked intently at him and saw that his face was like the face of an angel. Acts 6:14-15

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.”  John 6:28-29

Piety

One does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes forth from the mouth of God. (Matthew 4:4B)

Study

If the first step in building the Kingdom of God is faith, then how is that planted and cultivated? Today’s Good News takes us back into the life of Jesus before the Passion.  After Jesus had fed the five thousand men, his disciples saw him walking on the sea.  That is when the discourse on the Bread of Life takes place.

First, the disciples had to witness the work that Jesus was accomplishing. In this case it was a combination of the loaves and fishes miracle and walking on the sea.  Second, they had to open the “ears of their heart” to the words that Jesus spoke.  Third, they had to accept it.  These three steps are necessary for faith to be planted and grow. 

Once faith grows, we then can go on to evangelize others through our own witness, through speaking the Good News to others so that they too might accept their role in the Christian community.  Then, they will motivate themselves as lay apostles to reach out to others.

Action

As we set out on the beginning of another work week, the words of John’s Gospel ring in our ears on this Monday morning.  “Do not work for food that perishes but for the food that endures for eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you.” (6:27)

This is not unlike the message shared with the Samaritan woman at the well.  “…[W]hoever drinks the water I shall give will never thirst; the water I shall give will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” (4:14)

Shall we all call in sick to work?  Hardly.  The woman at the well goes through the three stages to plant and cultivate her faith.  Then next time we see her, she is leading crowds of people back to Jesus. 

Yet, none of that would have happened if she had not gone about her daily business of drawing water from the well for her household tasks. As you draw water from your well, go about those tasks filled with the Easter faith and remembering that “One does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes forth from the mouth of God.”