In John 6, Jesus gives some “hard sayings”, which turned away many of his disciples. These hard sayings centred around Jesus’ teaching that “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.” Just as the things we eat and drink become part of us, so Jesus’ teaching and example must become part of who we are. “Unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you… For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink”.
Jesus had recently fed the 5000, and crowds were following him to be fed again. They had missed the point, “you are seeking me… because you ate your fill of the loaves. Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life”. This lesson applies to us as well. It’s easy to fall into the daily routine of work, eat and sleep, but our focus needs to be elsewhere, on the spiritual food that can nourish our spiritual development. “Whoever feeds on this bread will live forever”.