Exodus 16:2-15; Ephesians 4:1-16; John 6:22-35

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,

Life is work. Relationships are work. Everything requires work. This is a common truth of life that anything we want or need requires us to work. This is part of why we all are cautious about someone offering something free to us. We know it’s rarely that easy. There’s so often a catch that means we have to do something in order to receive the “free” item. 

Indeed, this is why one of our great virtues is being hardworking. It’s the willingness to do what is necessary to achieve or attain that which we need and want. Because we know that everything requires work, we value those who are willing to work. It’s no wonder why many people think faith is no different. 

In our Gospel reading this week, Jesus is chased by the crowd which he fed miraculously with bread. Jesus teaches them not to labor for food which perishes. But then they ask, “What must we do, to be doing the works of God?” John 6:28. It seems like a valid question to us. If everyone else requires us to work, why wouldn’t God? 

But as much as we value hard work, we all also try to work as little as possible. We seek after those things that require the least amount of effort from us. What entices us the most are those things that seem to offer immediate pleasure and satisfaction. Free food, quick money, cheap sex, and so on. As Jesus says, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you are seeking me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves,” John 6:26. The people were seeking Jesus not because they believed in him, but because they got a free meal… and wanted another!

We misunderstand though the “work of God.” It’s not the work we do for God. It’s the work that God does for us! As Jesus says, “This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent,” John 6:29. The work of God, the work which pleases God is faith. This faith isn’t something that we do, rather, God gives it to us: “Do not labor for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you,” John 6:27. Jesus gives us this food, this faith so that we may be pleasing to God. God sends Jesus down from heaven to give us this food, just as he rained manna down from heaven for Israel. For Jesus comes down to offer himself as our sacrificial meal. Jesus gives us of his body and blood on the cross so that we may eat and believe. And through this eating, we may be satisfied unto eternal life! 

Pastor Sorenson

Prayer:

Merciful Father, You gave Your Son Jesus as the heavenly bread of life. Grant us faith to feast on Him in Your Word and Sacraments that we may be nourished unto life everlasting; through the same Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen!