Our readings today are about teaching and learning. The most important teaching that a person can ever get is that which comes from God, the most important leaning a person can ever accomplish is that which has God as its object.
In the wake of all of the happenings in Jerusalem, the Ethiopian eunuch of the first reading is reading the Prophet Isaiah as he traveled along in his chariot. He traveled this way because he was a distinguished officer in Queen Candace's court. Philip was moved by the Holy Spirit to stop the chariot, get in and ask the young fellow what he was doing.
When he was told that it was Isaiah the Prophet that he was reading, Philip asked if he understood what he was reading. The young man gives a classic and powerful answer: How can I unless someone explains it to me? This is exactly the stance that we all must have when approaching the Scriptures (any of them) – how can I understand this unless someone explains it to me. The explaining is the job of Philip, his fellow apostles, their successors and helpers: the bishops and priests of today. And it includes others who are duly commissioned to explain things in their place.
The true and authentic teaching from God passes through this channel; and true learning about vitally important matters can be accomplished only by this same channel. God the Father wants us to know truth: all of it: all of him: after all, the whole truth is nothing but Jesus Christ – the Word and Truth of God made flesh! And so he provides for our education in matters of faith!
In the gospel passage Jesus explains to the people that no one can approach him unless the Father draw him, so to be raised up on the last day. This is an extremely important teaching. Jesus continues: Everyone who listens to my Father and learns from him comes to me! For the Father is teaching you here that I, Jesus, am the bread of life: I, Jesus, will bring you into the kingdom on the Last Day to share this, my, life: forever! Know this! and believe this!
But, of course, with this, as with any teaching: you can lead a horse to water but you can't make him drink! The act of learning must be a voluntary, free-will act or it is pointless.
May we this day learn more fully what it means for Jesus to be the bread of life come down from heaven – especially in the form of our Eucharistic Bread which we receive at this and every Mass - so that it can have a true effect in the way we live our life!
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