This Sunday’s gospel reminds us that even in the desert moments of our lives, God always provides. When we are tired and ready to give up, it is the hand of God that feeds us with food for the journey. The psalm says, “Taste and see the goodness of the Lord.”

Even the Prophet Elijah, in the first scripture of this Sunday’s readings, became tired and was ready to give up in the desert but God would not let him give up. Instead, God sent his angels to feed him and he regained the strength to travel forty days through the desert until he reached the mountain of the Lord.

The people in the Gospel knew Jesus. They knew he was the son of Mary and Joseph. They have seen and experienced his miracles but still could not accept that he came from God. Through faith, we can recognize Jesus as the one who God sent to be our food and strength on our journey. 

Jesus says again, “I am the bread of life.” He promises eternal life through this bread that is given for the life of the world.

As a faith community, we gather as saints and sinners in the family of God to receive Jesus, the bread of life and hope for the world.

We have all experienced moments when we felt tired, weary, and worn on our journey of faith. There is an African-American hymn that says, nobody told me that the road would be easy.” Even at those moments of difficulty, the bread of life, Jesus gives us the strength to continue. No matter the situation even deep within the desert of our lives and with tears in our eyes, we are reminded that we are never alone for God always provides.