Question of the Week
Gospel Reading: John 6:24—35
The crowd has been fed miraculously; Jesus has departed; things are back to normal, kind of. No, something has happened that they want more of. They want Jesus: if he is around, they won’t have to break their backs to put a little food on the table. All they have to do is ask and he will provide dinner out of the air. So they go searching for him, and find him in Capernaum.
But he doesn’t make it easy. They ask him earthy questions, and he gives spiritual answers. He says that the work they have to do it to Believe in him.
Believe. We believe, don’t we? After all, we go to mass every week, or more; that has no use outside of belief.
But there is more. St. Paul says to “be transformed by the renewing of your minds,” and again, to be “renewed in the spirit of your minds.” To believe in Jesus requires us to change the way our minds look at the world: to put Jesus and the things of God ahead of earthly matters in our minds. This IS hard work: learning to think differently about what is essential and what is extra. Christ, Love of other people, Justice, Mercy: these things are essential, and require our undivided attention. Bank accounts, Clothing, Food, Social standing: these things are secondary, and must take second place.
That is Jesus’ way, and believing in him means following his way. If we aren’t doing it now, we ask for his grace and assistance so that we may learn to truly believe.
Question: How much must I change my mind in order to believe in him with my life?
