Jesus wants the hungry crowd he has just fed to look beyond the earthly food to “the food that endures for eternal life.” But the people misunderstand the sign.

Beginning today, our Gospel readings for five weeks come from chapter six of John’s Gospel, where Jesus is portrayed as the “Bread of Life.”

Today’s Gospel invites us into a desert wilderness with Jesus as our shepherd and guide. Along with his disciples we’re invited to “come and rest.”

Christians today are commissioned to take a message to the world that is more and more prophetic, more and more calculated to meet with rejection.

In today’s Second Reading Saint Paul tells us how he had a “thorn in the flesh,” something—and we don’t know exactly what this was—which reminded Paul constantly of his need for God.

Christ’s whole mission is meant to bring a radical transformation which overcomes sin, disease, even death.