Fr Paul Gooley reads from the Gospel of John (6: 22-29) in which the people ask Jesus, ‘What must we do if we are to do the works God wants?’ and he answers, ‘This is working for God: you must believe in the one he has sent’.

Fr Paul says the crowds who have experienced the multiplication of the bread follow Jesus quickly and urgently because they believe that he is their answer for their immediate need of food. But we hear that Jesus goes crook on them because they are searching for him for the wrong reason.

They want the bread that their ancestors had from Moses; manna or bread from God. Bread that was a temporary fix at the time. Now however, Jesus wants them to look for the food that lasts forever. Food that is no ordinary food.

Jesus is promising to give them the real food that comes from God that endures for eternal life. Jesus, the Son of Man and Son of God is the one who is able to provide that food.

Fr Paul says today’s Gospel Challenge – Do we follow Jesus for a quick fix, like the crowds, or are we following Jesus for the food that lasts forever?