What are we looking for?

John 6.16-27

When evening came, his disciples went down to the lake, got into a boat, and started across the lake to Capernaum. It was now dark, and Jesus had not yet come to them. The lake became rough because a strong wind was blowing. When they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus walking on the lake and coming near the boat, and they were terrified. But he said to them, ‘It is I; do not be afraid.’ Then they wanted to take him into the boat, and immediately the boat reached the land towards which they were going.


The next day the crowd that had stayed on the other side of the lake 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. Then some boats from Tiberias came near the place where they had eaten the bread after the Lord had given thanks. 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.


When they found him on the other side of the lake, they said to him, ‘Rabbi, when did you come here?’ 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. 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.’

Reflection

Have you been looking for God? If so, what are you hoping to find?

This story from John reminds us that while we may think we’re looking for the things that are important it’s possible that we’ve missed what truly counts. In our society, with its focus on getting and having, it’s all too easy to critique materialistic impulses, especially if we’re members of a faith community. After all, we church types have it all figure out, right? We’re looking for Jesus.

That’s great, we’re told in this story, but before we’re able to feel good about ourselves, the zinger comes: when we’re looking for Jesus, what is it we’re hoping to find? Are we willing to be unsettled by what we discover about ourselves? About what Jesus expects of us?

What are we looking for? And what are we hoping to find? These are good, if challenging, questions for this Lenten season!

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