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Gospel Reading for August 25, 2024 – John 6: 60-69
NEVER LEFT US
Many of Jesus’ disciples who were listening said, “This saying is hard; who can accept it?” Since Jesus knew that his disciples were murmuring about this,he said to them, “Does this shock you? What if you were to see the Son of Man ascending to where he was before? It is the spirit that gives life, while the flesh is of no avail. The words I have spoken to you are Spirit and life. But there are some of you who do not believe.” Jesus knew from the beginning the ones who would not believe and the one who would betray him. And he said, “For this reason I have told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted him by my Father.”
As a result of this, many of his disciples returned to their former way of life and no longer accompanied him. Jesus then said to the Twelve, “Do you also want to leave?” Simon Peter answered him, “Master, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and are convinced that you are the Holy One of God.”
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What did Jesus say that made some of his disciples return to their former way of life? It was Jesus’ discourse on his being the Bread of Life: “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty. “ (John 6: 35). Perhaps, if Jesus stopped here, it would not have been so absurd for them to understand because Jesus had just mutiplied five small barley loaves and two small fish for more than 5,000 people (John 6: 10-13). But then he says, “Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day.“ (John 6: 53-58). It is understandable for the Jews not to accept what Jesus was saying because how could they eat his flesh and blood? Perhaps, if Jesus would feed them everyday by multiplying bread, many of them wouldn’t have left him.
How blessed are we, that with the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, the apostles and first Christians understood that the Last Supper was the very first Eucharist where Jesus gave himself as bread and wine. Our Eucharistic Celebration is truly THE CELEBRATION of all celebrations, where people from all walks of life come together to listen to Jesus, ponder over what he said with the help of the Presider during the homily, with the power of the Holy Spirit making the bread and wine his body and blood, and receiving his body so we may remain strong in our Faith as we go through life living with those around us.
Jesus NEVER LEFT US. Thanks to the Holy Spirit, he can be present to us through Holy Communion. Thanks to the evangelists, he continues to speak to us every moment of everyday. Thanks to the Church, we can continue to journey as one people with Jesus and be his disciples.
The disciples left him because they could not understand what he was saying. We cannot claim that we too, do not understand. If we do not understand Jesus up to now, with all that is written and pertained to him from the Old to the New Testament, perhaps, we do not want to understand him. Sometimes it is because following Jesus is not easy. True, the devil always lurks around trying to snatch us away from him, but Jesus is the Son of God who has all the power over the devil. Indeed, the devil can snatch us ONLY IF WE LET HIM. What else can be better than to belong to the Son of God? What else can be better than living a life that will lead us to eternal bliss? As Peter said, “Master, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life!”
Jesus, you are truly the living bread that came down from heaven! May our lives be sustained by you till eternity!
