John 6:41-51(NLT)
Then the people began to murmur in disagreement because he had said, “I am the bread from heaven.” 42 They said, “This is Jesus, the son of Joseph. We know his father and mother. How can he say, ‘I came down from heaven’?” 43 But Jesus replied, “Don’t complain about what I said. 44 For people can’t come to me unless the Father who sent me draws them to me, and at the last day I will raise them from the dead. 45 As it is written in the Scriptures, ‘They will all be taught by God.’ Everyone who hears and learns from the Father comes to me. 46 (Not that anyone has ever seen the Father; only I, who was sent from God, have seen him.) 47 I assure you, anyone who believes in me already has eternal life. 48 Yes, I am the bread of life! 49 Your ancestors ate manna in the wilderness, but they all died. 50 However, the bread from heaven gives eternal life to everyone who eats it. 51 I am the living bread that came down out of heaven. Anyone who eats this bread will live forever; this bread is my flesh, offered so the world may live.”
Tom Brady will be remembered as one of the all-time great quarterbacks of the NFL. He holds many NFL passing records with many seasons yet to play. With all of that success, he still reflected on the sense of void in his life in an interview with 60 Minutes.
Why do I have three Super Bowl rings and still think there’s something greater out there for me? I mean, maybe a lot of people would say, ‘Hey man, this is what is.’ I reached my goal, my dream, my life. Me, I think, ‘God, it’s got to be more than this.’ I mean this isn’t, this can’t be what it’s all cracked up to be.
When asked by the interviewer: What’s the answer?
I wish I knew. I wish I knew.
Human beings are extremely complex creatures. We need food and water to sustain physical life, but we need so much more to flourish. We need to work hard, achieve, accomplish, and create. We need relationships with family and friends. These are all basic needs true of every human being. When we miss the opportunities to engage in these things or have the opportunities snatched away from us, we experience a sense of loss and disappointment. But why does someone like Tom Brady, who arguably is one of the greatest quarterbacks to play in the NFL, and has all the comforts and pleasures that life can offer, still express a sense of void?
Jesus is calling people to an understanding of need on a whole new level. Physical sustenance, emotional well being, friendship, support from family, accomplishment and achievement are important and necessary, but we each are made to experience relationship and sustenance on a wholly different level. We need spiritual connection as well.
Jesus, feed us the bread of life. Amen.
Dialog discuss: If we’re not calling people into deeper levels of personal relationship with God, we’re not taking the Gospel seriously. If we’re not engaging the world, bringing empowerment to the marginalized and addressing the specific injustices of our time, we’re also not taking the Gospel seriously. It’s that simple. Jim Wallis, Sojourners