Acts 9:31-42
Psalm 116
John 6:60-69
Worship Song
Entrance Antiphon
In baptism we
have died with Christ, and we have risen to new life in him, because we
believed in the power of God who raised him from the dead, alleluia.
(Colossians 2:12)
Opening Prayer
God our Father,
by the waters of baptism you give new life to the faithful. May we not succumb
to the influence of evil but remain true to your gift of life. We ask this in
the name of your Son.
Alleluia
Alleluia,
alleluia. Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life; you have the words of
everlasting life. Alleluia, alleluia. (John 6:63c, 68c)
60Then many of his disciples
who were listening said, “This saying is hard; who can accept it?” 61Since
Jesus knew that his disciples were murmuring about this, he said to them, “Does
this shock you? 62What if you were to see the Son of Man ascending to where he
was before? 63It is the spirit that gives life, while the flesh is of no
avail. The words I have spoken to you are spirit and life. 64But 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. 65And he said, “For this reason I
have told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted him by my
Father.” 66As a result of this, many [of] his
disciples returned to their former way of life and no longer accompanied him. 67Jesus then said to the Twelve, “Do you
also want to leave?” 68Simon Peter
answered him, “Master, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. 69We have come to believe and are
convinced that you are the Holy One of God.”
Reflection
Then many of
his disciples who were listening said, “This saying is hard; who can accept
it?”
When Jesus
declares, “The bread that I will give is my flesh for the life of the world,”
the Jews “murmur” in unbelief. Their revulsion is complete when Jesus speaks
about his blood as true drink. Literal drinking of blood was prohibited in
Judaism and perhaps in early Christianity. (Genesis 9:4; Acts 15:29) The Jews
cannot go beyond the physical, and so misunderstand Jesus’ promise.
“Flesh” has to
do with the incarnate life of Jesus. He, the divine Word, became flesh, a human
being in its weakness and mortality. “Blood” has to do with his very real
death. To be eaten and to be drunk means that the flesh is to be broken and the
blood is to be spilled. Jesus now speaks of the separation of his flesh and
blood in a violent death as the moment of total giving of himself. Jesus speaks
of the inevitability of his death on the cross.
As a result of
Jesus’ declaration, many of his disciples no longer accompany him. Jesus could
have “softened” his teaching if he wanted to remain popular. But he tells the
“hard” truth and challenges those who remained to make their decision about
him.
To what extent
do we accept the Real Presence of Jesus Christ in the Eucharist?
Prayer Response
Within me,
Lord Jesus, you dwell in mystery. Forgiven and freed, I am being transformed,
day by day into your likeness, revealing your presence in the world. Lord, by
your grace, keep me on the path that leads to eternal life. Let me come to you
each day with arms and heart open wide.
Suggested Action
Say to
yourself at least five times today: “I’ve got Jesus in me!” Write the phrase on
a piece of paper and put it in your pocket.
Credits
Fr. Gil Alinsangan, SSP; Treasures New & Old, excerpts
Fr. Paul Boudreau, Between Sundays
Silencing
We
cannot know God unless we have listened to him in the silence of our hearts.
Rest in the loving arms of the Lord with an open mind and an open heart.
“Our
happiness is greatest when we contribute to the happiness of others.” ~ Harriet Shepard
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