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.”

Reflect

“The words of eternal life.” Today’s Gospel narrates that after Jesus said all that he
had to say in the discourse of the bread of life, many of his followers faltered. Many
decided to stop following Jesus. They said that the words of Jesus were too difficult
for them to take. Indeed, the heavenly things could not be accepted immediately by
all. The words of Jesus are spirit and life but not everyone was ready to accept
them. However, there were some among his followers who were willing to grapple
with Jesus’ words because, for them, the words of Jesus were words of eternal life.
They did not want to go anywhere else but to Jesus whose words were life even if
such words were very difficult to understand. Jesus’ words are difficult to accept
because the challenges they pose are not easy challenges. To cite, Jesus’
words may expose the darkness that may be governing us but it is only through
such words that we shall be set free from such darkness. Now then, do we want
to go away too?

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