God gently draws us toward faith and meets us where we are. In the first reading, the Spirit leads Philip to the Ethiopian official: a seeker reading Scripture but longing for understanding. Through patient listening and guidance, Philip helps him encounter Jesus. This leads to faith, baptism, and great joy. God’s Word, when explained and welcomed, opens the heart to new life. In the Gospel, Jesus reminds us that faith itself is a gift: “No one can come to me unless drawn by the Father.” God takes the first step, inviting us into relationship. Jesus then reveals himself as the living bread come down from heaven, given for the life of the world. He does not offer ideas or theories, but his very self as nourishment for eternal life. Saint Augustine beautifully expresses this hunger when he says, “You have made us for yourself, O Lord, and our hearts are restless until they rest in you.” Drawn by the Father and fed by Christ, let us rejoice in faith and help others encounter him.

Abba Father, help me to understand the Word in a deeper way. Amen.