Fr. Christopher Somo

Wasn’t this the goal of humanity all along, to be restored to the state of communion between God and man in Eden? Wasn’t this the goal of Israel’s story, to be a light to the nations in that God would dwell among them? After all, what is the point of solely having a promised land that would fade away as all other nations do? What sets the people of God apart is that God dwells among them, and here in John 6, Jesus indicates that it is the will of the Father to do so in a radical way.

In the Gospel passage for this Sunday, we see Jesus not only risen, but also continuing to guide his disciples. Yes, the catch of the fish appears to be miraculous, but some say that it was also common practice to have a spotter on the shore who would guide those fishing in order to make them aware of what they are not able to see themselves.

We chase security, approval, comfort, and success as if they were the source of life itself. Jesus doesn’t deny that food, clothing, money, school, friendships, and the future matter—but he insists they make terrible masters. Jesus exposes how anxiety reveals what we truly worship. What we worry about most often reveals what we believe will save us. This teaching calls us to reorder our priorities to make sure seeking the kingdom is first.