Wednesday of Third Week of Easter: Jesus Is the Bread That Never Runs Out, Says Fr. Patrick Ajayi

Akahi News learnt that Rev. Fr. Patrick Kunle Ajayi of St. Mary Catholic Pro-Cathedral, Ilesa, has delivered a powerful reflection for Wednesday of the Third Week of Easter, drawing from Acts 8:1-8 and John 6:35-40. His message centres on a hunger that no rice can satisfy and a thirst that no water can quench.

Hunger and thirst, Fr. Ajayi notes, are two human conditions we cannot avoid and cannot afford to neglect. Life is okay and fine for one who has quality means of satisfying his hunger and thirst. But what about the deeper hunger? What about the thirst that remains even after the stomach is full?

The gospel today continues this teaching, quoting Jesus directly: “I am the Bread of life. He who comes to me will never be hungry and anyone who believes in me will never thirst.” These are not suggestions. They are direct words of assurance expressed with unconditional certainty.

The WORD Became Flesh – And Remains Flesh in the Eucharist

Akahi News gathered that Fr. Ajayi insists that it should not be difficult for us to believe this. After all, the Gospel of St. John (1:1-3) has already told us that our life was made through the WORD. We can only be nourished for survival by the same WORD – who became flesh and dwelt among us (John 1:14).

But the priest goes further. That same WORD, he explains, continues to become flesh in the Eucharistic bread and wine as His Body and Blood to quench our hunger and thirst for the real life in the Spirit. The Mass is not a memorial service. It is an encounter. The bread is not a symbol. It is Him.

It was alleged that beyond this, our faith has also turned us into God’s gifts in the hands of Jesus – gifts that cannot perish but are preserved for eternity of joy. That was the confident hope of St. Stephen and other Christians, most especially St. Philip, who ran to the pagan world to preach this good news.

Think about that. Stephen, while being stoned to death, saw heaven open. Philip, scattered by persecution, did not hide. He ran to the pagan world. Why? Because he had eaten the Bread of life. Because his hunger was satisfied. Because he was no longer afraid of what man could do to him.

Akahi News had earlier reported on Fr. Ajayi’s reflections throughout Eastertide. His consistent message has been this: the Risen Lord is not a memory. He is present. He is active. And He is still feeding His people – not with perishable food, but with Himself.

It is not a child’s play to believe that a piece of bread is the Body of Christ. It defies logic. It challenges the senses. But that is the scandal of the Eucharist. That is the mystery that has sustained martyrs, converted saints, and comforted sinners for two thousand years.

Fr. Ajayi’s reflection is an invitation. Do you hunger for meaning? Do you thirst for peace that the world cannot give? Do you feel empty despite having a full fridge? Come to the Bread of life. Not to a doctrine. Not to a ritual. To Him.

He who comes to Jesus will never be hungry. Anyone who believes in Him will never thirst. That is not a metaphor. That is a promise. And the one who made it cannot lie.

As Eastertide continues, the Church calls the faithful to deeper Eucharistic devotion. Not occasional reception. Not routine attendance. But real, hungry, desperate coming to the altar – because only the Bread of life can satisfy the hunger that nothing else can touch.

BE SPIRITUALLY FULFILLED IN JESUS CHRIST, Fr. Ajayi concludes. That is not a wish. It is a direction. Go to Him. Eat. Drink. Live.

Key Summary Box

Scripture readings: Acts 8:1-8 (the scattering of believers and Philip’s mission to Samaria) and John 6:35-40 (Jesus the Bread of Life).
Core message: Jesus declares, “I am the Bread of life. He who comes to me will never be hungry, and anyone who believes in me will never thirst.” This is an unconditional assurance.
Theological depth: The same WORD through whom life was created became flesh (John 1:14) and continues to become flesh in the Eucharistic bread and wine as His Body and Blood.
Example of faith: St. Stephen and St. Philip lived with confident hope because they had been nourished by the Bread of life. Philip ran to the pagan world to preach this good news.
Why it matters to Catholics: The reflection calls believers to move beyond routine reception of Communion to a real, hungry, desperate coming to Jesus – the only one who can satisfy spiritual hunger and thirst.
Bottom line: Physical food satisfies the body. The Eucharist satisfies the soul. Come to the Bread of life. You will never hunger again.