A reading from the holy Gospel according to John
Jesus said to the crowds: “For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in him may have eternal life, and I shall raise him on the last day.”
In today’s Gospel, Jesus declares himself to be the bread of life. He says that whoever comes to him will never go hungry and whoever believes in him will never be thirsty. By doing his Father’s will, Jesus rejects no one who comes to him. In that is the promise of eternal life to those who see the Son and believe in him. What is the food I go for time after time that leaves me hungry?
God, help me come to you confident that you will supply me with daily bread in this world and the bread of life for the world to come. Jesus models the holiness of a will obedient to yours as he says, “because I came down from heaven not to do my own will but the will of the one who sent me.” Give me the grace, then, to follow Jesus by knowing and doing your will. Help me be receptive to your grace just as Jesus was so that I do not lose anything of what you give me.
Jesus Christ, Bread of Life, let me come to you. You said to the crowds: “But I told you that although you have seen me, you do not believe.” Help me believe you without seeing you, Lord, the same yesterday, today, and forever.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.