Daily Gospel Reflection for April 24, 2023

Join us as we reflect, ponder, and pray together inspired by today's Gospel.

Today's Gospel: John 6:22-29

“Don’t forget, it’s all straw.” Barb’s mother reminded her children that working for anything other than for the Lord is straw. Straw may look attractive in the field but is of no nourishment for the body or soul. Straw is the waste of time, money, or energy on anything not of eternal importance.

Jesus warns us of being preoccupied with those things, which are straw.

“Do not work for food that perishes, but for the food that endures for eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you.” John 6:27

Most of us spend a lifetime working at a job and earning money only to waste much of it on more and more, bigger and bigger. Instead, Jesus calls us to feast on Him and to work for things of importance: the building of our domestic church, the education and spiritual formation of our children, the care of the sick and elderly, and serving the poor. Any selfless, kind, or generous offering, in His name, endures forever.

We’re tempted to work for straw: a grander house, the latest fashion, new seasonal decorations, or shiny pieces of jewelry. But eventually baubles lose their luster, decorative items tarnish in the landfill, food rots in our refrigerators or makes us unhealthy. Instead, we are to feast on Jesus, the food that never perishes–His words, His flesh in the Eucharist, His will. For this is the food that endures forever–the rest is all straw!

Ponder:

What are you feasting on, straw or Jesus?

Pray:

Dear Lord, help us to always feast on You. Grant us the wisdom to spend our lives on the eternal.

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We are to feast on Jesus, the food that endures forever! #DailyGospel

Copyright 2023 Mary Pedersen