Today’s Gospel Text: Many of his disciples, when
they heard it, said, "This is a hard saying; who can listen to it?" 61 But Jesus, knowing in himself
that his disciples murmured at it, said to them, "Do you take offense at
this? 62 Then what if you were to see
the Son of man ascending where he was before? 63 It is the spirit that gives
life, the flesh is of no avail; the words that I have spoken to you are spirit
and life. 64 But there are some of you that
do not believe." For Jesus knew from the first who those were that did not
believe, and who it was that would betray him. 65 And he said, "This is why
I told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted him by the
Father." 66 After this many of his
disciples drew back and no longer went about with him. 67 Jesus said to the twelve,
"Do you also wish to go away?" 68 Simon Peter answered him,
"Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life; 69 and we have believed, and have
come to know, that you are the Holy One of God." John 6:60-69
Reflection: What
is the hardest thing to do in life?
Is
it passing an exam or getting a job or cooking your daily meal or fulfilling
the daily obligations of life?
Yet
for the many even the routine could be quite a drudgery to handle and may go
through all sorts of mental agony and turmoil; an oppression.
Indeed,
life is no bed of roses; some find it difficult to give up on the bondages of
life or to forgive or let go of their many attachments to life and its many
allurements.
Even
the pleasures of life and its after effects can ruin the peace and tranquility
of the many with a conscience ever at it, convicting them of the evil thereof.
But
its still not the hardest thing to do in life because there are avenues, life
styles, spirituality's and support structures in place in our corrupt society which supports the most
sullied conscience. The immoral have a
place in our society and they, irrespective of their lifestyle, are highly
immortalized by our world.
The
priorities of the world are not in keeping with the priorities of God and in
many places the members of the church too have made the human priorities the
priorities of God rather than making the priorities of God a human priority.
Thus
you arrive at the hardest thing to do in life, much harder than all of the
above combined together: To follow
Christ Jesus and to walk in his ways.
Even
in his own life time Jesus was faced with such a situation too: "Many of his disciples, when they heard it, said, "This is a
hard saying; who can listen to it?"" (vs. 60)
“After this many of his
disciples drew back and no longer went about with him.” (vs. 66)
The call to follow
Jesus is really difficult and can invite many negative tags and persecutions in
the process, even by the so called followers of Christ and by princes who rule
in his name and hence it is always hard.
Nevertheless, those who
have put their hand to the plough will never look back, even if it means the cross. (Cfr. Lk. 9:62)
Prayer: Vindicate me, O Lord, for I have walked in my
integrity, and I have trusted in the Lord
without wavering. Ps 26:1
DD = Dedicated
Discipleship: Come grow
in the Lord with us
