Bread of Life
Topic: Bread of Life
Speaker: Rev. Fung Chi Wood
Passage: John 6:26 – 63
Summarized By: Natalie
Today’s passage revolves around our spiritual exercises– the daily bread of Christians. As in this chapter of John’s Gospel, Jesus denounced those who merely seek him for food. What can be more important than food? Faith.
To believe in Jesus Christ with all your heart and soul isn’t all talk and no action, but it’s about putting Jesus’ teachings into practice. The blood and flesh in “He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day.” refers to Jesus as our daily bread. Do not take it literally, we aren’t there to consume his actual flesh and blood His life. This Spirit of Jesus feeds us with the food he wants us to sustain on and live a transformed life, in which we become followers of Jesus and be one with Christ.
“I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live forever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.” Eternal life here indicates our spiritual life. We are all born with two lives: body and spirit, while the latter works on our connection with God, it is eternal. The former is limited by time and space. What exactly defines life? Does a life of PVS (persistent vegetative state) patient differ from yours? Apparently, there are different levels of lives, the highest ones are spiritual lives in union with God.
“It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life” Our yearning for material need will diminish as we grow spiritually. A strong spiritual life can guide us into an abundant and fulfilling life, but only if we explore and experience the presence of God.
How can we connect with God more?
Conventional ways of enhancing spirituality include singing hymns, reading the Bible and worshipping, etc. Whichever method you adopt, always remember the key is wholeheartedness. As long as you seek for a connection with God, He will open a door for you. Let it be as natural as breathing or eating and set your mind towards building this intimacy. Apart from the above, time and determination play a role in here as well. One shall never forget, God will always open a door for you when you seek Him.
Prayers: listen to understand
You may find it challenging to grow as you consistently make progress in spirituality. Once the disciples asked Jesus about their inability to drive out evil, Jesus answered that evils would not be driven out without prayers and fasting. As a vital part in spiritual discipline, prayers have always been the most potent ritual. Did you notice our prayers are often one-way? Are we genuinely communicating with God? Like a phone call, we need two-way communication. To achieve this, we must learn to listen. In praying, after expressing yourself, let go of your thoughts and just contemplate on Jesus in silence. With practice, the Spirit within you will lead you close to God.
Fasting: the path to silent union with God
Fasting is often a way to dedicate our fellowship with God. Jesus fasted for 40 days and 40 nights before his temptation by Satan in the wilderness. During the season of Lent, try praying and fasting. By eating less, one would find the cleansing of the body and the sense of control. With this accomplishment, we shift our thoughts from this world to spiritual formation.
Let us pay more attention to life and spiritual nourishment. Jesus promised those who seek shall find eternal life. Life of a Christian is not solely about the ritual of receiving Communion. With conviction, grow spiritually and actively seek intimacy with our Lord, God.
