27. *Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that ** which endureth unto life everlasting.* As our Version indicates, the meat is the object for the attainment of which they are exhorted to do their part. The meaning cannot be that they are to _make_ the food by believing, as if the food were faith; for they had not _made_ the bread in the desert the previous day, nor were they thinking of making it now, but they were trying, _striving to obtain it_. This sacramental food will endure _in its effects_ unto eternal life. This food *the Son of Man will give*; _i.e._, Christ as man will give us His flesh; but since the food is to endure in its effects unto _eternal life_, mere man could not give such; and hence it is added that the Father who is God has sealed with the impress of Divinity (August., Tolet.) the Son of Man, who therefore, being God as well as man, can give a food that will endure unto eternal life. 28. Dixerunt ergo ad eum: Quid 28. They said therefore unto faciemus ut operemur opera him: What shall we do that we Dei? may work the works of God? 29. Respondit Iesus, et dixit 29. Jesus answered, and said eis: Hoc est opus Dei, ut to them: This is the work of credatis in eum quem misit God, that you believe in him ille. whom he hath sent. 28‐29. Some of His hearers now interrupt Christ, not however to inquire what this food was, but to ask what they must do on their part in order to perform the works which they take it for granted _God requires_, before they may receive such food. Christ’s answer is, that in order to obtain it, so that it may remain unto eternal life, they must believe in Himself. So too is it even now; the sinner may sacrilegiously receive the Lord into his breast, but it is only for Him who believes (and acts accordingly) that the Sacrament endureth unto eternal life. 30. Dixerunt ergo ei: Quod 30. They said therefore to ergo tu facis signum ut him: What sign therefore dost videamus, et credamus tibi? thou show that we may see, and quid operaris! may believe thee? what dost thou work? 31. Patres nostri 31. Our fathers did eat manna manducaverunt manna in in the desert, as it is deserto, sicut scriptum est: written, _He gave them bread Panem de coelo dedit eis from heaven to eat_. manducare.