For the past four weeks, we have reflected on the sixth chapter of John’s gospel, Jesus’ discourse on the Bread of Life and the Eucharist. We began our reflection with the story of the multiplication of the loaves and fishes. We heard Jesus tell us that he has something better to offer us, the bread of life, “bread that comes down from heaven so that one may eat it and not die” (John 6:50). Today we end the chapter with a reflection on personal faith and commitment.
Both the first reading from Joshua 24 and the gospel, John 6: 60 -69, pose a challenge, “decide today whom you will serve” (Joshua 24:15). The tribes of Israel chose to “serve the LORD” (Joshua 24:18). They made this choice based on a lot of tangible evidence, “it was the LORD, our God, who brought us and our fathers up out of the land of Egypt, out of a state of slavery. He performed those great miracles before our very eyes and protected us along our entire journey and among the peoples through whom we passed” (Joshua 24:17).
For the disciples, choosing to follow Jesus required a huge act of faith. Although they had witnessed a number of miracles, they still did not understand everything Jesus said. His words of “Spirit and life” were elusive and mysterious. In addition, many found much of what Jesus said shocking, “hard” and verging on the unacceptable. And so, they left returning “to their former way of life and no longer accompanied him” (John 6. 66). The crowd of more than five thousand people at the beginning of this chapter now is reduced to twelve. It is up to Peter to answer Our Lord’s question, “Do you also want to leave?” His astounding answer is called the great confession, “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” (John 6:68-69).
The Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches, “The first announcement of the Eucharist divided the disciples, just as the announcement of the Passion scandalized them: "This is a hard saying; who can listen to it?" The Eucharist and the Cross are stumbling blocks. It is the same mystery and it never ceases to be an occasion of division. ‘Will you also go away?’: the Lord's question echoes through the ages, as a loving invitation to discover that only he has ‘the words of eternal life’ and that to receive in faith the gift of his Eucharist is to receive the Lord himself” (CCC 1336).
Faithful God of the covenant,
in the daily choices we have to make
give us the courage to opt always for your Son and his ways
and to remain close to him.
Bless the difficult road we sometimes have to take
without seeing where it will lead us.
Keep us from making half-hearted decisions
where we have not enough faith, and
to accept all the consequences of our choice.
Keep us always faithful
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen
