reasons to believe

"The crowd said to Jesus:

'What sign can you do, that we may see and believe in you?

What can you do?

Our ancestors ate manna in the desert, as it is written:

He gave them bread from heaven to eat.'

So Jesus said to them,

'Amen, amen, I say to you,

it was not Moses who gave the bread from heaven;

my Father gives you the true bread from heaven. 

For the bread of God is that which comes down from heaven

and gives life to the world.'

So they said to Jesus,

'Sir, give us this bread always.' 

Jesus said to them, 'I am the bread of life;

whoever comes to me will never hunger,

and whoever believes in me will never thirst.'"

(Jn 6:30-35)

Reasons to believe. I think we've all looked for them, at one time or another - or at least, I know I have. We live in a world that is driven by facts, by quick information, that wants proof of everything. We don't easily accept invisible things. A healthy dose of skepticism never hurt anyone - but that's not quite the same thing as what I'm talking about. Skepticism is a good thing, when it leads us to question, to think for ourselves, and ultimately, to come to a conclusion about the truth. But if we are so caught up in the need for physical, seeing-it, touching-it, proof, we end up denying part of our very selves in the process - the invisible part - our souls. The part that wants to believe without seeing, that doesn't need physical proof to know the truth. 

Besides, one sign is never enough, because there are some things for which some of us will never be able to find enough proof - or perhaps not spectacular enough proof. One sign wasn't enough for the crowds who flocked to Jesus. At this point in St. John's gospel, Jesus had already multiplied the loaves and fishes, feeding the five thousand - yet the people want to see another sign. When he offered himself to them as that sign, many walked away, or resorted to arguing about what he meant. Perhaps they thought he would give them some obvious, great, cosmic sign. Instead, he gives them something greater - himself - but that required the eyes of faith to see. 

May the eyes of our faith be open... that the words of Christ Jesus may be our "reasons to believe."

+Peace, and all good.