Second Meditation - John 6

In these five reflections we are seeking a deeper understanding of the message in John’s gospel chapter 6 – what is its unique message for us in these times. This is the Eighteenth Sunday of Year B and our passage from John's gospel comprises verses 24 to 35. For each meditation we key off verse 66. Many of Jesus' follower have quit going  with him. Taking into account the effects the Covid-19 pandemic is having, in recent years there is without a doubt a decline in the numbers of Catholics practicing their faith. Why? Indeed, could it be that you have consider quitting? In verse 24 it tells us that Jesus was missing. So the people got into their boats and went off looking for him. (The “Boat” as you know is often used as an image representing the Church, or our parish). On finding Jesus, now on a "different" side, their question to him might sound like, “… why did you leave us, why have you changed. It was so beautiful when you were right there with us blessing our lives, meeting our needs when ever we needed you.” At the outset of the Second Vatican Council Pope John XXIII prayed for a “New Pentecost” in the Church, and for a few decades following there were many grace-filled movements that began in the Church. These renewal movements shared a common experience, a deep sense of the personal presence of Jesus in peoples lives. Perhaps you experienced being part of one of these movements. Things have changed – where is the enthusiasm today, the voices of praise, the certainty of faith among the faithful, seemingly every prayer answered  – where has Jesus gone? When the people in the gospel passage put this question to Jesus his reply is - are you seeking me just to have your fill of comfort food, are you not missing something? CONSIDER: How often do you hear people say, (or do you say) I stopped going to church because I was no longer getting anything out of church. Is that why we go to church, just to be comforted, (to have our fill of the comfort-loaves) to escape the troubles of this world? CONSIDER: The great mystics of the Church, such as John of the Cross, St. Ignatius, in their teaching on prayer they talk about the Dark Night - how God seems to hide his grace of consolation in order to take us to an even deeper experience of his presence. Are you making an effort even to have a spiritual life - to understand that the comfort food of religion is only a SIGN, there is so much more. The Lord wants to take us deeper into the "mystery" of our faith.  CONSIDER: Are we not missing the point - it is not about me, it is about Him. I go to church to find Him who does not take away the world but who teaches me how to survive in the world, how to change the world rather than to have the world change me. CONSIDER: Take some time and ponder these words of St. Paul teaching the Galatian Church how it all changed when they became true believers:  I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me. Gal. 2:20 CONSIDER: “What sign are you going to give us then, so that we may see it and believe you? What work are you performing?”  In todays secular/rationalist environment this challenge is an ever-present demand - where is your proof; where is the evidence to prove your religion's claims. Today all the sciences quite nicely can explain why you have all these religious beliefs in your head. Religion is nothing more than myth after all. Does this explain the decline in religious practice today? Are you being affected by such secular challenges. Do you have a solid, convincing answer? CONSIDER: When Jesus changed the conversation from, "I can provide for all of your needs" to "it's all about Me", is that when they started leaving? Is true religion all about what makes the world go around or is it about personal relationship? Do I have a personal relationship with Jesus?