Works of God – Reflection on John 6:22-29
We believe that with Jesus’ help, we participate in the works of God. When our belief intensifies, there is an upward spiral of physically doing and spiritually being for others. As we willingly open our minds and hearts, we begin to have example after example of the love of the Father and Jesus we know as the Holy Spirit in our journey. The walk towards eternal life, among other things, allows us to discern our God-given individual gifts and use them in deep gratitude. If we humbly do so, we will easily recognize our attributes as extensions of Jesus’ love and our desire for eternal life. For example, the Spirit quiets my learning disability so I can write. The confusing order of words seems to reorder and re-flow more naturally as I immersive in the repeated prayer and reading during Lectio and as I write a reflection.
Jesus Teaches the People by the Sea by James Tissot.
The full-resolution painting and more details are available on the Brooklyn Museum website.
Additional Eastertide Reflections
John 6:22-29 – Scripture*
The Bread from Heaven
22 The next day the crowd that had stayed on the other side of the sea saw that there had been only one boat there. They also saw that Jesus had not got into the boat with his disciples, but that his disciples had gone away alone. 23 Then some boats from Tiberias came near the place where they had eaten the bread after the Lord had given thanks. 24 So when the crowd saw that neither Jesus nor his disciples were there, they themselves got into the boats and went to Capernaum looking for Jesus.
25 When they found him on the other side of the sea, they said to him, “Rabbi, when did you come here?” 26 Jesus answered them, “Very truly, I tell you, you are looking for me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves. 27 Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures for eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For it is on him that God the Father has set his seal.” 28 Then they said to him, “What must we do to perform the works of God?” 29 Jesus answered them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.”
Additional Thoughts
Thank you for meditating on this Gospel and reading this Lectio Divina on John 6:22-29 Reflection – Works of God.
Would you like to contribute related thoughts to these Lectio reflections on the Gospel readings? Since Lectio is not the only contemplative prayer style, others might appreciate these types of expressions in this ministry. Do you see God’s grandeur everywhere and unconditionally enjoy sharing the love of Christ that you have inside? Are you willing to be anonymous in what you would share? If so, email me.
Prayer for young families:
Lord, let the young families of our communities experience your joy, peace, comfort, and love despite worldly distractions.
Attributions
*This site has permission to use the New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (NRSVCE) Bible John 6 passage.
This site follows the guidelines for image web use at the websites of the Brooklyn Museum and the Jewish Museum.
Primary Lectio Divina word or phrase: Works of God
Page and discussion group on these Lectio Divina daily Gospel Readings.
Discussion group on St. John of the Cross.