Would I believe for so little ?

Tuesday, May 4, 2021

Would I believe for so little ?

What miraculous sign are you doing, then, they said to him, that we may see it and believe in you ? John 6.30

When it happened to me sometimes to doubt, this thought crossed me : Ah, if I saw a miracle, I would not doubt any more. Really ? Is the sight of a wonder always followed by faith ?

In the proposed text, a huge crowd of 5,000 men made a hearty picnic with five loaves of bread and two fish. At the time, they are amazed. I would have been at least.

The next day, they want to see this Jesus who did such great things again. But he wants to make them understand the meaning of this miracle : he is he, the bread that gives not life that perishes, but eternal life. For that, they must believe in him.

Yes, they are willing to believe, but they reply to him : What miraculous sign are you doing then, they said to him, that we may see it and believe in you ? (v.30). They who have seen, with their own eyes, this little bit of food distributed in sufficient quantity for all these people... what more do they need ? They argue : “But that is nothing compared to manna, that bread that came down from heaven with which Moses fed a whole people for 40 years. That was a miracle... (v.31).

Jesus explains to them that he is the bread that came down from heaven... (vs. 33, 35). It’s the last straw for them who know Joseph and Mary his parents well ! The discussion continues... they eventually leave.

Seeing the miracle did not result in faith. It’s a matter of the heart. Is ours open to receive the gift of God ?

Elfriede Eugene

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Proposed reading : Gospel according to John chapter 6 verses 10 to 12 and 27 to 35.

Source (Live Today)