The Words of Eternal Life

Today’s gospel is the last in the Bread of Life Discourse, which we discussed for the whole month of August. This scripture passage is quite telling because thousands of years later, Christianity split up into those who only believe in the Bible, and the Catholics, who remained steadfast in the teaching of Jesus Christ that he is the Bread of Life who came down from heaven… that if we eat his flesh and drink his blood, he would raise us up on the last day and grant us life eternal. You can read this passage about the Words of Eternal Life in John 6:60-69.

“Many of [Jesus’] disciples who were listening said, “This saying is hard; who can accept it? 61 Since Jesus knew that his disciples were murmuring about this, he said to them, “Does this shock you? 62 What if you were to see the Son of Man ascending to where he was before? 63 It is the spirit that gives life, while the flesh is of no avail. The words I have spoken to you are of spirit and life. 64 But 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. 65 And he said, “For this reason I have told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted him by my Father.” 66 As a result of this, many [of] his disciples returned to their former way of life and no longer accompanied him.

67 Jesus then said to the Twelve, “Do you also want to leave?” 68 Simon Peter answered him, “Master, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. 69 We have come to believe and are convinced that you are the Holy one of God.”

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For the whole month of August, we Catholics have been literally bombarded by this scripture passage using the words of our Lord Jesus Christ who teaches us that the way to eternal life is through obedience to the will of God. That obedience is shown by an act of eating the flesh and drinking the blood of Jesus as he clearly tells us in the gospel passages that we’ve discussed in the last three Sundays of August.

But even 2,000 years ago, many of his disciples could not accept this teaching. Lest you already forgot, they followed our Lord Jesus around Galilee and witnessed the feeding of the five thousand from a few pieces of fish and bread. Everyone had their fill and there were still enough food to fill up 12 wicker baskets. But when our Lord spoke about the Bread of Life, there was disbelief from his disciples. Because of their unbelief, they left our Lord and went back to their former way of life.

But as this scripture passage tells us, “Jesus knew from the beginning the ones who would not believe and the one who 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 him by my Father.” This tells us that…first of all, our Lord Jesus already knew who were the ones who would leave him and the reason for that is very clear… that no one can come to our Lord unless the Father gives them to Jesus.

So if you profess that you love our Lord Jesus Christ, but God the Father did not draw you to the Lord, chances are… you are akin to the many disciples who left the Lord when he finally spoke about eternal life. Today, Christianity has split into the Catholic Church and 33,000 other churches that profess that they are Christian, yet, like those disciples who deserted Jesus because they refuse to accept his teaching, they continue professing their faith in our Lord through his word.

As my favorite author, Dr. Scott Hahn, a Protestant Pastor who turned Catholic, wrote in his bestselling book, “Rome Sweet Home”, “The Protestants are reading the menu, but the Catholics are eating the meal.” For the sake of emphasis, allow me to repeat my favorite topic in Mark 12: 28-34 about the Greatest Commandment, which goes like this, “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God will all your heart with all your soul, with all your mind and with all your strength and your neighbor as yourself.”

The scribes who agreed that doing this was worth all the burnt offerings and sacrifices you can do in the temple. Then our Lord Jesus answered the Scribes, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” What did he mean by this? In my understanding… he really meant… that following the greatest commandment doesn’t not usher you to eternal life… but you are no longer far from the kingdom of God.

If you believe that our Lord is truly present… his body, blood, soul and divinity in the Holy Eucharist… then show your reverence by kneeling down during the consecration and when you take the Holy Communion, taking our Lord Jesus Christ through your tongue, not with your hands.

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