Master·evangeli.net
Today's Gospel + short theological explanation
John 6: the Word converts itself in “bread” first of all through Incarnation
EDITORIAL TEAM evangeli.net (based on texts by Benedict XVI) (Città del Vaticano, Vatican)Today, Jesus words reveal how we can “nourish ourselves” with God and live of Him: God converts himself in “bread” for us, first of all in the Logos’ Incarnation (God’s Image, the Son of God). The Word has changed into Flesh! The Logos makes himself one of us and thus enters in our sphere, in what is accessible to us.
Nevertheless, further to the incarnation of the Word, an additional step is needed, which is mentioned in the final words of the sermon: His flesh is life “for” the world (cf. 6,51). Herewith is a reference beyond the act of incarnation, to the inner purpose and its last achievement: the offer Jesus makes of himself until the death and the mystery of the Cross.
—Jesus becomes a man to surrender himself and to replace the animals’ sacrifices, which could just be the signs of a yearning but not an answer. The Bread definitively contains the mystery of the Passion.
The evangeli.net Team