YOU HAVE THE WORDS OF LIFE ETERNAL! ~ CookingFood.Org

“RISEN WITH CHRIST”

Easter Reflections

Saturday, 6th May 2017.

Third Week of Easter

Acts 9: 31-42;

Ps 116: 12-17;

Jn 6: 60-69.

YOU HAVE THE WORDS OF LIFE ETERNAL!

John shows us that it is Jesus who feeds us with divine life, by giving us his own life and flesh. Eating the bread and fish given by Jesus was soft and easy; but listening to the teaching about his Body and Blood, was hard and difficult. The Gospel states sadly, that many of his disciples left him and stopped going with him. But when Jesus asked the twelve whether they too wanted to go away, Peter answered, “Lord to whom we shall go? You have the words of eternal life”. Yes, Peter understood, even though vaguely, that “it is the spirit that gives life, the flesh has nothing to offer.”

This question by Jesus to the Apostles is important to understand. By asking it of them in a very direct way, Jesus is giving them complete freedom to choose. He does not pressure them to believe what He just taught. This is significant because the level of detachment that Jesus offers is a way of inviting a completely free acceptance, on the part of the Apostles, of His glorious teaching on the Eucharist. They are truly free to accept or reject it. It is this freedom that allows them to radically deepen their faith in Jesus.

Let us reflect today, upon our own level of commitment to Jesus. We are completely free to follow Him or to leave Him. Jesus does not want us to choose to follow Him, and then do it half way. Jesus’ words are powerful, challenging and demanding. He wants us to believe in Him and follow Him with our whole heart and with profound commitment. Jesus alone has the words of eternal life and we must accept and believe those words with all our might.

The Christian communities, as we hear in the first reading of today, built themselves on this life which they received from Jesus and the consolation of the Holy Spirit.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, You alone are the one whom I choose to believe in and follow. Help me to embrace all that You have taught and help me to freely choose You each and every day of my life. Jesus, I trust in You. Amen.