John 6:25-35 (NRSV)
Read John 6:25-35 on biblegateway.com
Verse 25When they found him on the other side of the sea, they said to him, "Rabbi, when did you come here?" Verse 26Jesus answered them, "Very truly, I tell you, you are looking for me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves. Verse 27Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures for eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For it is on him that God the Father has set his seal."
Verse 28Then they said to him, "What must we do to perform the works of God?" Verse 29Jesus answered them, "This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent." Verse 30So they said to him, "What sign are you going to give us then, so that we may see it and believe you? What work are you performing? Verse 31Our ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written, 'He gave them bread from heaven to eat.'" Verse 32Then Jesus said to them, "Very truly, I tell you, it was not Moses who gave you the bread from heaven, but it is my Father who gives you the true bread from heaven. Verse 33For the bread of God is that which comes down from heaven and gives life to the world." Verse 34They said to him, "Sir, give us this bread always." Verse 35Jesus said to them, "I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.
Devotion
Jesus taught his disciples to pray "Give us this day our daily bread." Martin Luther in his Small Catechism remarks, "we ask in this prayer that God cause us to recognize what our daily bread is and to receive it with thanksgiving." We of course recognize that the "bread" for which we pray stands for more than just literal bread. So the readings for this Thanksgiving day join that prayer by inviting us to reflect on all the gifts of God that foster a thankful and whole life. Yet the gospel reading is also a call and reminder of our faith in the One who is at the center of all of God's gifts. Jesus claims, "I am the bread of life." At the heart of the gospel is the promise that Jesus is the "true bread" that comes down from heaven and that the Father indeed continues to give us this bread. In him is true life and salvation.
Prayer
O giver of the true bread from heaven, help us to receive with thanksgiving your gift of the one who is for us the bread of life as an answer to our prayer, and then share your gifts with your creation as a testimony to your goodness. Amen.