Reflection
The first reading today from the Acts of the Apostles begins the story of Stephen, one of the seven deacons named in Acts 6:5. Because he will become the first Christian martyr, Luke will devote much attention to him. Luke will also emphasize how Stephen will follow his Lord and Master in his words and deeds. Stephen possesses the unassailable wisdom promised by Jesus to His disciples (Lk 21:15). Like Jesus, he is accused of the gravest charge that could be laid against a Jew, blasphemy. Luke would deliberately portray these events in terms that recall the trial and death of Jesus. Parallels include testimony from false witnesses, reports that Jesus would destroy the Temple, visions of the Son of man in heaven, prayers of surrender to God and petitions of forgiveness for the executioners.
The Gospel passage from John takes place around the sea of Galilee, also known as the sea of Tiberias, also known as the lake of Gennesaret. The city of Tiberias mentioned was the administrative capital of the province of Galilee built by Herod Antipas in 20 A.D. on its’ western shore. Further north, Capernaum was Jesus’ base for His ministry in Galilee.
The discourse begins a conversation between Jesus and a group of Galilean Jews, many of whom would have been present at the very recent Miracle of the Loaves and Fishes. Jesus will speak of the messianic gifts He brings. He begins explaining how He, himself will surpass the gift of manna given to their fathers in the desert and the miraculously multiplied loaves they had partaken of just previously. Like the Samaritan woman who will seek the water that will eternally quench thirst, they will ask for the bread that will eternally satisfy their hunger. Jesus will use this opening to launch “the Bread of Life” discourse; He is that bread.