Why spend your money on what is not bread?

Today’s gospel comes after some pretty amazing miracles; Jesus has fed the five thousand (John 6: 1-14) and walked on water (John 6:15-21). It is understandable, then that when the people get a chance to talk to Him they ask “What sign are you going to give us then, so that we may see it and believe you? What work are you performing?” (John 6: 30). They are excited and distracted by the miracles and want to see more; ”Our ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written, ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’”

Jesus directs their thoughts instead to the deeper meaning behind the feeding of the five thousand, and the manna in the desert. these things happened as a sign that in God all people can find what they truly hunger for. “For the bread of God is that which comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” (John 6:34).

At that point, they must have had “ears to hear” because they said to him, “Sir, give us this bread always.”

What am I focusing on that looks like God but is not God himself?

Where do I spend my mental, emotional, and spiritual energy? Is it giving me life or draining it?

Perhaps it is time to refocus and to ask the Holy Spirit to give us ears to hear Jesus’ words

“I am the bread of life.

Whoever comes to me will never be hungry,

and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.“