Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; the one who comes to Me will not be hungry, and the one who believes in Me will never be thirsty. But I said to you that you have indeed seen Me, and yet you do not believe. Everything that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I certainly will not cast out. For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me. And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that of everything that He has given Me I will lose nothing, but will raise it up on the last day. For this is the will of My Father, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him will have eternal life, and I Myself will raise him up on the last day.”

-- John 6:35–40

Reflections
With activities continuing to be cancelled, masks on, and distanced from friends and family, we are metaphorically hungry for the things that once filled us with joy. Sometimes it feels more like starvation as we have been struggling through this for so long.

In this passage from John, Jesus reminds us that as the bread of life, he will keep us full and satisfied. Even though it seems a “normal” world is still far away, how has Jesus fed you in this season? How has a crumb He has dropped you given you enough energy to sustain you?

My husband recently joined the Deacons of Westminster and he shared with me that they did an introductory ice breaker where they were asked to share one positive of this season and everyone had one. My guess is you do, too. So take a moment to reflect on what that might be. Where has His trail of crumbs lead you? Even though it may seem that your belly still twinges with a hunger pain, if you think about how Jesus has walked along side you in this season, it may turn out that you’re not as hungry as you might have thought.

-- Laura Ecklin

Questions
When have you felt hungry, physically, or spiritually?
What is life giving for you? How do you experience Jesus in those life in giving moments?

Prayer
Jesus, bread of life, you sustain us through season when we fail to feel your presence. You feed us when we are hungry for purpose, hope, and healing. You promise us that you will never abandon us. Let us rest in you.