Sermons Based on the Lectionary of the Syrian Orthodox Church

Devotional Thoughts for the First Sunday after Pentecost

by Rev. Dr. V Kurian Thomas Valiyaparambil

Gospel Reading: John 6:26-35

Theme: "What must we do to do the works that God expects of us?" (John 6:28)

Gospel Reading: (John 6:26-35)

26 Jesus answered, "Very truly I tell you, you are looking for me, not because you saw the signs I performed but because you ate the loaves and had your fill. 27 Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For on him God the Father has placed his seal of approval."
28 Then they asked him, "What must we do to do the works God requires?"
29 Jesus answered, "The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent."
30 So they asked him, "What sign then will you give that we may see it and believe you? What will you do? 31 Our ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written: 'He gave them bread from heaven to eat.'"
32 Jesus said to them, "Very truly I tell you, it is not Moses who has given you the bread from heaven, but it is my Father who gives you the true bread from heaven. 33 For the bread of God is the bread that comes down from heaven and gives life to the world."
34 "Sir," they said, "always give us this bread."
35 Then Jesus declared, "I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty."

Message:

After Jesus had performed the miracle of feeding the 5,000 with five loaves of bread and two fish, the people asked him, "What are the things God wants us to do?" The people had witnessed the miracle and it elevated their curiosity.

The gospel tells us that there are a lot of things we can also do to our lives. We need to discover what matters the most and the best things with our life. It is important because the choices we make will determine whether or not we have God's blessings in life. God is in control of the universe, but we can choose what matters the most that will have God's spiritual blessings upon us. We have the choice between a blessing and a curse. If we obey the commandments, it will be a blessing. if we disobey them, it will be a curse.

Jesus answered to the people, "Believe in the one that God has sent." That's what God wants us to do. Believe in Jesus Christ because he is the one sent from heaven to this world. The thing that matters most for us would be trusting in Him. Living by what he says and following the example that he set.

The people asked, "What miracle will you do?. If we see a miracle, then we will believe in you. What will you do? Our fathers ate manna in the desert. Moses delivered them"

Jesus said to them, "I tell you the truth. It was not Moses who gave you bread from heaven. It was my Father who gave them the bread from heaven. God's bread is the one comes down from heaven that gives life."

The people then said, "Give us that bread, always"

Most of the people followed Jesus because they saw the miracle Jesus did and they wanted the physical food to satisfy their hunger. They had seen the 5,000 eating the miracle bread which was multiplied from five loaves of bread and two fish. Jesus said if they would eat the spiritual food that he was offering, they would never be hungry again. Jesus guides all of us into making the right choices in life. He wants us to place spiritual needs before our physical needs. We humans cannot achieve the spiritual satisfaction on our own effort. Our family or friends cannot fill the vacuum. We have to look to God for what others can't fulfill in our life.

Jesus said, "I am not like the bread your ancestors ate. They ate physical bread and still died. I am the bread that came down from heaven, and whoever eats this bread will live forever."

Conclusion:

Jesus wants to lift us up from the physically dominated existence to a spiritual life. The spiritual hunger can be met only with the spiritual bread that comes from the heaven. Earthly food cannot satisfy the spiritual vacuum. We need to place spiritual needs before our physical needs.

Jesus is that bread. He is the one who offers forgiveness, peace and freedom from shame and guilt. It is this food we need to take daily. Unfortunately our worldly hearts tempt us to leave this spiritual bread and seek worldly pleasures. Instead we need to take Jesus into our hearts and continue to feed upon his word. It is necessary to nourish our souls on his gospel messages for the forgiveness of our sins and salvation.

See Also:

The Bread of Life
by Rev. Russell B. Smith
The Bread of Life - Part 2
by Rev. Russell B. Smith

The Bread of Life Came Down From Heaven
by Tobin Pederson, MN

Understanding the Bible in its own time and in ours
by David Ewart

Homilies on the Gospel of John - John 6: 15-44
by St. Augustine

First Thoughts on John 6:24-35
by William Loader, Murdoch University, Australia

Then and Now
by Larry Broding

Devotional Thoughts for the 1st Sunday after Pentecost
by Jose Kurian Puliyeril

Devotional Thoughts for the 1st Sunday after Pentecost
by Jose Kurian Puliyeril

Lord, evermore give us this bread
by Rev. Fr. John Brian
Sermons and Bible Commentaries for the 1st Sunday after Pentecost

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