John 6:56-69

56 Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood abide in me, and I in them. 57 Just as the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so whoever eats me will live because of me. 58 This is the bread that came down from heaven, not like that which your ancestors ate, and they died. But the one who eats this bread will live for ever.’ 59 He said these things while he was teaching in the synagogue at Caperna disciples heard it, they said, ‘This teaching is difficult; who can accept it?’ 61 But Jesus, being aware that his disciples were complaining about it, said to them, ‘Does this offend you? 62 Then what if you were to see the Son of Man ascending to where he was before? 63 It is the spirit that gives life; the flesh is useless. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life. 64 But among you there are some who do not believe.’ For Jesus knew from the first who were the ones that did not believe, and who was the one that would betray him. 65 And he said, ‘For this reason I have told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted by the Father.’

66 Because of this many of his disciples turned back and no longer went about with him. 67 So Jesus asked the twelve, ‘Do you also wish to go away?’ 68 Simon Peter answered him, ‘Lord, to whom can we go? You have the words of eternal life. 69 We have come to believe and know that you are the Holy One of God.’

We continue with St. John’s method of Jesus’s teaching. We see the Teacher leading us gradually from the daily bread, with the multiplication He performed, to the bread we need for life eternal. He tells us that His body, coming down from heaven, is the bread of eternal life.

From the miracle to the sign, to the essential bread, to identifying the bread with his own body and blood, the gradual ascent of this chapter reminds us of the same way Jesus healed the blind man at Siloam in John 9. The recovered blind man spoke about Jesus first as “a man,” then as “a prophet” and he ends by kneeling in front of him and saying, “My God and my Lord!”

This is how we learn from Jesus and about Jesus, and this is how we are called to follow Jesus. Gradually our eyes may be opened to see and our souls may be hungry for the bread of eternal life.

St. John is telling us where this event dealing with the bread of eternal life took place. It happened in the synagogue at Capernaum, on the northern shore of the Sea of Galilee. We are able to visit there today.

At Jesus‘s words about eating His body and drinking His blood, many of those who followed Him decided to leave. They wanted the bread of survival but not the bread of life. They didn’t believe Him so they decided to leave Him.

In fact, it is not easy to accept this teaching. This is why Jesus asked His disciples, “And you too, would you like to leave? If you do, I will still love you and redeem you, but feel free to make your choice.” “Where shall we go, you have the words of life eternal?!”

Believe or leave, Jesus doesn’t like tepid faith. He prefers one to be either warm or frozen! Where do I stand today? Do I believe Jesus is the bread of life, of my life, of my life eternal? Am I aware that He invites me to know Him more and more, walking with me at my pace? Today am I tempted to leave or shall I say with St. Peter, “Where shall I go?” because I believe?

Come and see the town with the synagogue where Jesus stood at that time and listen to His words. He speaks to us today!

Fr Kamal Aug 21, 2021