The sequence of readings in today’s lectionary encourages us to see the Gospel of John as a development of the first reading, Deuteronomy, where the Lord feeds Israel on its journey to the land of Canaan.

Newly freed from Egyptian slavery, the people then journeyed through a barren wilderness. No water, no food in the wilderness. So God supplied the people miraculously with “water from the rocks” and “bread from heaven.” Despite the daily gift of manna, however, many Israelites “murmured,” taking for granted such daily nourishment.

In the Gospel of John’s account, Jesus does more than supply food (6:1-15) in an isolated place. He offers himself as the Bread of Life, enabling them to live more closely allied to the Lord than manna could never bring about. Manna enabled them to survive in the wilderness and enter Canaan, but Jesus as the Bread of Life offered believers to live forever: “Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me and I in him.” “Life” here is sharing Jesus’s life: “Just as . . . I have life because of the Father, so also, the one who feeds on me will have life because of me.” And the life offered is eternal: “Unlike your ancestors who ate and still died, whoever eats this bread will live forever.”

Catholics used to sacraments in their religious practice may too quickly interpret John 6 as referring solely to a later Eucharistic theology. Doing so, however, may push to the side important points – Bread of Life understood as “bread that nourishes life,” that is, as revelation inviting and nurturing a faith that results in a deeper personal relationship to Christ, in Johannine terminology “remaining in him.” Furthermore, interpreting “bread” and “blood” as referring only to the Eucharist may obscure the profound sacrifice of his life that Jesus makes for each one of us: the phrase “the flesh of the Son of Man . . . his blood” reminds us of the suffering and death that enabled Jesus to be with his disciples.

Yet, Jesus does indeed refer to the Eucharist, where his great love is displayed and commemorated in the Word of God that we hear, and prepares our hearts and minds for being nourished by the bread and wine of the Eucharist.

Richard Clifford, S.J., has taught biblical studies for 55 years, most recently at the Clough School of Theology and Ministry, Boston College, and has written many scholarly and popular books and articles.