MONDAY OF THE THIRD WEEK OF EASTER - Gospel (John 6:22-29) - THE WORD OF GOD FOR EVERYONE

“This is the work of God, that you believe in the one he sent.” (Jn 6;29)

FIRST READING - Acts 6:8-15

A reading from the Book of the Acts of the Apostles

Stephen, filled with grace and power,

was working great wonders and signs among the people.

Certain members of the so-called Synagogue of Freedmen,

Cyreneans, and Alexandrians,

and people from Cilicia and Asia,

came forward and debated with Stephen,

but they could not withstand the wisdom and the Spirit with which he spoke.

Then they instigated some men to say,

"We have heard him speaking blasphemous words

against Moses and God."

They stirred up the people, the elders, and the scribes,

accosted him, seized him,

and brought him before the Sanhedrin.

They presented false witnesses who testified,

"This man never stops saying things against this holy place and the law.

For we have heard him claim

that this Jesus the Nazorean will destroy this place

and change the customs that Moses handed down to us."

All those who sat in the Sanhedrin looked intently at him

and saw that his face was like the face of an angel.

GOSPEL OF THE DAY - 6:22-29

From the Gospel according to John

[After Jesus had fed the five thousand men, his disciples saw him walking on the sea.]

The next day, the crowd that remained across the sea

saw that there had been only one boat there,

and that Jesus had not gone along with his disciples in the boat,

but only his disciples had left.

Other boats came from Tiberias

near the place where they had eaten the bread

when the Lord gave thanks.

When the crowd saw that neither Jesus nor his disciples were there,

they themselves got into boats

and came to Capernaum looking for Jesus.

And when they found him across the sea they said to him,

"Rabbi, when did you get here?"

Jesus answered them and said,

"Amen, amen, I say to you, you are looking for me

not because you saw signs

but because you ate the loaves and were filled.

Do not work for food that perishes

but for the food that endures for eternal life,

which the Son of Man will give you.

For on him the Father, God, has set his seal."

So they said to him,

"What can we do to accomplish the works of God?"

Jesus answered and said to them,

"This is the work of God, that you believe in the one he sent."

MONDAY OF THE THIRD WEEK OF EASTER - Gospel (John 6:22-29)

THE WORD OF GOD FOR EVERYONE

Dear People of God,

Today’s Word of God, Jesus said to the people: “Do not work for food that perishes, but for the food that endures for eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you.”

The food that the Son of Man gives is food that never perish—food that nourishes and brings eternal life to humanity.

Jesus clearly saw that the people's hearts were seeking Him only for material food to satisfy their physical hunger. He knew it was not good for them to seek only the food that perishes, so He taught them, “Work for the food that endures.”

• "Work for food" means to do good deeds—acts of charity and love—as the Word of God has taught since the beginning of time.

"To have eternal food" means to believe in Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who came to earth to become a human being. God the Father desires this because He is the one who gives eternal food to nourish His people so they may have everlasting life.

Those who believe in Jesus Christ as the Son of God must live according to God's teachings while still living on this earth, which include: “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart” and “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”

• Be diligent in prayer, sacrifice, self-denial, and performing works of charity and love.

These are the good deeds that God the Father invites all people to listen to and put into practice. He also reminds us:

• To receive the eternal food that nourishes humanity daily is the Holy Eucharist.

• To sacrifice yourself, becoming like bread that is broken and given to everyone.

• For God to be present, to reign in the soul, and to nourish both body and soul, a person must live a holy, pure, and innocent life. If you do these things, you will have eternal life.

Thanks be to God. Amen