Seeking Jesus
In this week’s Gospel John 6: 24-35 the crowd goes seeking Jesus and when they find Him, they get a lesson in motives. He challenges them as to the reason they are seeking Him ‘Truly, truly, I say to you, you are seeking me, not because you saw the signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves’.
His statement challenges us today. Do we also seek Jesus in the hope of getting material possessions? Today, for many of us, it is not bread we seek Jesus for, though there are still many that are seeking bread, but for material possessions such as clothes, mobile devices, large bank accounts, cars and so on.
Not that these things are not important, they are necessary to live comfortably in the modern world. After all, Jesus tells us in the Lord’s Prayer, ‘Give us this day our daily bread’. He wants us to come to Him for our material needs, but He is calling us to something much more precious, a personal relationship with Him.
Why do we seek out others in life? Is it for the hope of getting ahead or some advantage in life, or are we seeking genuine friendship? Do we seek out others to fulfill fleshy desires or to satisfy superficial cravings, or do we seek out true connections that enrich our souls?
Just as Jesus challenges us to examine our motives for seeking Him, we should also reflect on our intentions in our relationships with others. Are we cultivating connections that are grounded in mutual respect, love, and sincerity, or are we driven by selfish gains? By prioritizing authentic relationships, we mirror the depth of connection Jesus desires with us, fostering a community built on genuine care and spiritual growth.
Jesus calls us to look beyond our immediate desires and recognize the deeper fulfillment that comes from a genuine relationship with Him. By seeking a personal relationship with Jesus, we open ourselves to a transformation that goes beyond material wealth and touches the very core of our being.
Today, so much is driven by materialism. A cusory glance at the daily news, you come away with the thought that all that is important is economics and financial affairs. The media celebrates the millionaires and the billionaires as the true heroes, the role models. Politicains use phrases such as ‘winners and losers in life’, as if life is an Olympic sport.
Yet none of these things satisfy the soul. A deep relationship with Jesus is an interior connection that transcends the material and reaches the depths of our spirit. Thomas Merton describes it as a mystical experience, an encounter with the divine that transforms our inner being. St. Paul speaks of it as the fruits of the Holy Spirit—love, joy, peace—gifts that flourish within us as we draw closer to God.
This connection is a lifting up of our hearts to Jesus Christ, a surrender to His grace and guidance. It brings a profound sense of contentment that material possessions can never provide. Placing our trust in Jesus means relying on His wisdom and love to navigate the complexities of life. It is a trust that assures us we are never alone, that His presence is a constant source of strength and comfort.
It means seeking out moments of contemplation and prayer, where we can listen to His voice and discern His will for our lives. It involves walking in nature and breathing in its scent, reading and reflecting on scripture. It requires slowing down, quieting our minds and cultivating a heart of gratitude, recognizing the blessings we have been given, and sharing those blessings with others.
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