It is the morning after the feeding and the "disappearance" of Jesus and his disciples. The crowd has caught up with them on the other side of the sea, and they immediately begin to throw questions at him. Beginning with why and how he is across the sea. In this case, it is Jesus who does not answer the question. Instead, he tells them that they are only seeking him out because of yesterday's miracle of the bread and fish. He also tells them that they should be working for the food of eternal life.
How do we do that?
You believe in him whom God sent.
What sign are you going to give us so that we may believe?
My reaction to the crowd at this stage is: Hello? Is anyone home? He just fed 5,000 people with five loaves and two fish, and you want a sign? That wasn't enough?
Unfortunately, we always want another, clearer sign. Or maybe it's a case of being ready to see the sign put in front of you. The question is often asked, how many people passed by the burning bush before Moses turned aside to investigate? The crowd thinks it is ready, that much is clear from their response to his discourse on the bread from heaven:
Sir, give us this bread always.Having been in their place often in the past, and undoubtedly to be in their place many times again in the future, Jesus will answer our questions. Whether or not we hear, or if we hear, do we understand, is another matter entirely. Even should we understand, are we truly ready to act upon what we understand?
In my case, even if I understand the answer in front of me, I am always looking for more information. I want to know all the angles. I want to know all the possible paths forward. I want to be prepared. Instead, I find myself frozen in place with too much input. Paralysis by analysis.
At some point, we have to take that first step off the cliff into the unknown. Otherwise, we are stuck. If we pray for the burning bush, then we must be prepared to follow wherever its message leads us. It is not the end, but the beginning.
Peace,
Jeffri
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