DAILY READING
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REFLECTION
Living Water & the Bread of Life
by Elaine Pierce
Do you remember our passage from a few weeks ago when John told the story of the woman at the well? Jesus told her that he could give her living water, and he said: "everyone who drinks this water [from the well] will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life." (John 4:13-14)
In today's reading, the crowds have gathered to hear him teach. Listen to his words:
"I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.....I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats this bread will live forever." (John 6:35, 51)
I am struck by the similarities. Jesus offers eternal life to all who will believe. And he is very clear that the source of eternal life is in him. It is not in good works. It is not in strict adherence to the Torah, good as that is. It is not in how much we give to the church, generous as that is. Jesus makes this point abundantly clear in John 14:6: "I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."
This is a truth that I need to hear every day, sometimes several times a day. I want to prove my worthiness to God. I want him to be impressed with me. I want to earn my salvation through my good works.
Tim Keller puts it well:
Lord, I come to you with a humble heart. I long for the living water that only you can give. I long for the bread of life that comes down from heaven. And yet I resist your good gifts, wanting to earn them. I am sinful and needy. Thank you for freely giving me eternal life. Amen.
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