Overview:

Wednesday of the Third Week of Easter

A Reflection for Wednesday of the Third Week of Easter

Jesus said to the crowds,
“I am the bread of life;
whoever comes to me will never hunger,
and whoever believes in me will never thirst.
But I told you that although you have seen me,
you do not believe.
Everything that the Father gives me will come to me,
and I will not reject anyone who comes to me,
because I came down from heaven not to do my own will
but the will of the one who sent me.
And this is the will of the one who sent me,
that I should not lose anything of what he gave me,
but that I should raise it on the last day.
For this is the will of my Father,
that everyone who sees the Son and believes in him
may have eternal life,
and I shall raise him on the last day” (Jn 6:35-40).

Find today’s readings here.

Up until four months ago, the bread of life discourse from the Gospel of John brought up exactly two things in my mind: the fact that it is my mom’s favorite Gospel passage, and the hymn “I Am the Bread of Life.” Just about four months ago, I found out that it is one of several options for the Gospel reading for a funeral Mass. 

I didn’t have to think about it much before I chose one of the two options from this chapter of John’s Gospel, mostly because it was just the reading my mom would have wished for herself. The other options are nice too, and we’ve heard some on recent Sundays, like the raising of Lazarus and the death of Jesus on the Cross. (I didn’t really want to portray my mom as Lazarus or Jesus, though.)

Today’s Gospel takes on new meaning when read at a funeral. When I heard it before, I was always focused on the Jesus-being-the-bread aspect—it’s a popular first Communion Gospel reading, for good reason. Suddenly, the most important part became, “Everyone who sees the Son and believes in him may have eternal life, and I shall raise him on the last day.” What a beautiful sentiment in thinking about our loved ones who have passed, and for ourselves who are still on earth. 

By partaking in the body of Christ, believing in him and eating his flesh (the Greek uses very visceral words for eating in this passage that show it is not just metaphorical), we are part of this chosen group who will have eternal life and be raised. This is why this reading appears in the middle of Easter. 

The Father has willed that Jesus take in anyone who comes to him, not lose anything of what he gave to him, and raise it all on the last day. What a relief, what a consolation, then, for our loved ones who have passed and who belong to God. Based on this Gospel alone, I have hope, even security, in my mother’s spot in heaven. 

My dad and I both feel closest to my mom when we are at Mass. By partaking in the Eucharist, the bread of life that is Jesus, we share in the heavenly feast that is celebrated at every moment in heaven by the angels and saints.

Jill Rice is a 2022-23 O’Hare Fellow at America. She is now the SEO and Analytics Associate at America. She graduated from Fordham University's Lincoln Center campus and majored in classical languages and comparative literature.