Gospel: John 6:60-69
Many of the disciples of Jesus 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 walked with 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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Reflection:
A man who would always attend Sunday Mass stopped doing so. His reason
was he cannot believe that the ordinary bread and wine becomes the Body and
Blood of Jesus after consecration. Hence, he lived his life without the presence
of Jesus through Holy Mass. He felt
emptiness even if he was materially wealthy.
Do you believe the claim of Jesus that He is the Bread of Life? Many of
the followers of Jesus were scandalized about his pronouncements that He is the
Bread of Life. That whoever comes to Him will never hunger or thirst (John
6:35).
They detached themselves from following Jesus and perhaps they returned
to their former way of life. Possibly it was a life of sin and emptiness, they
chose to regress rather than to progress with Jesus. Why did they walk away? It
was influenced by their unbelief towards Jesus.
Those followers who chose to walk away missed the golden opportunity to
know more about Jesus. They also missed the chance to witness more miracles from
Jesus. What else did they miss? They were deprived of Jesus daily abiding
presence.
Those who walked away simply did not believe and they saw it fit to
simply trust on their own understanding. Than have faith in the pronouncement
of Jesus. This is what ails many of us: We trust more in our finite minds than
have faith in Jesus.
How about you? Are you also walking away from Jesus? Stay with Jesus,
never leave Him, always connect with Him more than you connect with your smart
phone and other gadgets. –
Marino J. Dasmarinas
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