Jn 6:60-69
After hearing this, many of Jesus’ followers said, “This language is very hard! Who can accept it?”
Jesus was aware that his disciples were murmuring about this and so he said to them, “Does this offend you? Then how will you react when you see the Son of Man ascending to where he was before? It is the spirit that gives life; not the flesh. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and they are life. But among you there are some who do not believe.”
From the beginning, Jesus knew who would betray him. So he added, “As I have told you, no one can come to me unless it is granted by the Father.”
After this many disciples withdrew and no longer followed him. Jesus asked the Twelve, “Will you also go away?” Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We now believe and know that you are the Holy One of God.”
REFLECTION
READ: Jesus was aware that even some of His followers had a hard time accepting His teachings but He continued anyway with revelations that made some of them to take their leave and go. Now only the Twelve remain. Peter affirms the Twelve’s unwavering faith in the life-giving word of Jesus.
REFLECT: Even His disciples had a hard time accepting the words of Jesus. Jesus would not play nanny to those whose faith in Him was not strong enough to withstand the shock of knowing who Jesus really was. They would not be punished because they parted ways with their Teacher. Their ordinary lives would continue. But the path to greatness would disappear and the doorway to an opportunity of meaningful life would close. The Twelve who stuck it out with Jesus were radically changed. It would be enough for these Twelve to cast their lot to an unknown future with Jesus whom they loved and admired.
RESPOND: Do we really know Jesus that much, so much so that we are willing to follow Him till the end? Or perhaps we just follow by rote, or by blind obedience, or because this is what we have been doing from the time when we were born? If we check ourselves and understand who Jesus is to us then we can make an informed choice whether to follow Him or not until the end. And when trials and sorrows come because of that informed choice, then we will never waver but persevere to the finish.
PRAY: Lord God, introduce me again to Your beloved Son. For I cannot come to Him without You willing it. May I get to know Him better so that my following Him will have substance and weight. Amen.
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