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20.04.2021 — Faith is a Credible Sign

3rd week in Easter, Tuesday – 20th April 2021 — Gospel: John 6, 30-35

Faith is a Credible Sign

In today’s gospel, the crowd began by seeking the Messiah, but then started to seek signs from Jesus (6,30). This verse gives further proof of the wickedness of their hearts. One day before, they had seen Jesus feed five thousand men with five loaves and two fish. On the very next day, they came to Him and asked Him for some sign that would prove His claims to be the Son of God. “For the Jews require a sign” (1 Cor 1,22). The rabbis taught that, when Messiah came, He would duplicate the miracle of the manna (Ex 16). If Jesus was truly sent by God (Jn 6,29.38.57), then let Him prove Himself by causing manna fall from heaven. Instead, Jesus points to the Eucharist as the supreme sign, while manna of the desert was only its foreshadowing (6,32-33). Like most unbelievers, they wanted to see first, and then they would believe. But this is not God’s order. God says to his people, “if you believe, then you will see.” Faith that is based on signs alone, and not on the truth of the Word, can lead a person astray. For even Satan is able to perform “signs and deceptive wonders” (2 Thess 2,8-10). Faith is a credible sign that must always come first. Jesus emphasizes that faith is more important in receiving the Eucharist.