Today's Gospel in Art - I am the bread of life

The Miracle of Manna, by Jacopo Tintoretto © Scuola Grande di San Rocco, Venice

Source: Christian Art

Gospel of 20th April 2021 - John 6:30-35

The people said to Jesus, 'What sign will you give to show us that we should believe in you? What work will you do? Our fathers had manna to eat in the desert; as scripture says: He gave them bread from heaven to eat.'

Jesus answered: 'I tell you most solemnly, it was not Moses who gave you bread from heaven, it is my Father who gives you the bread from heaven, the true bread; for the bread of God is that which comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.'

'Sir,' they said 'give us that bread always.' Jesus answered:

'I am the bread of life.

He who comes to me will never be hungry; he who believes in me will never thirst.'

Reflection on the Ceiling Painting

The Jewish people had always regarded the manna in the wilderness as being the bread of God. They thought it was Moses' prime work. So in our reading today we see the Jewish leaders demanding that Jesus replicates this miracle and produces manna from heaven to prove He is truly the Messiah. Jesus simply responds by explaining that it wasn't Moses who produced the manna from heaven, but it was God Himself. Furthermore, that manna was not the true bread and was only foretelling the true bread that was to come: Christ.

Then Jesus says the words 'I am the bread of life'. The manna in the wilderness during Moses' time sustained the Israelites on their journey to the Promised Land, but it wasn't guaranteeing eternal life. Jesus makes clear that He is the only one who can sustain us both now and for all eternity. Jacopo Tintoretto therefore paints the manna as Eucharistic wafers falling down from heaven. What descends is not just manna, but already the Eucharistic bread, combining the Old Testament and New Testament readings in one scene.

This ceiling fresco painting is in the Chapter Hall of the Scuola Grande di San Rocco, Venice. As the divine food which saved the Israelites from starving to death after the exodus from Egypt is already depicted in the form of hosts, it was a perfect subject to be painted near the altar there. The sudden darkening sky opens to reveal God in a burst of light sending down the Eucharistic wafers. These are gathered up by people in various baskets and even a large blanket that takes up a large section of our painting. So great is the beauty of and respect for the Eucharist, that every wafer needs to be collected.

LINKS

Today's story - https://christian.art/en/daily-gospel-reading/781
Christian Art - www.christian.art/index.php