Reflection
Today is Saturday, May 10th. It is the Saturday of the Third Week of Easter.
This line in today’s passage from the Gospel of John resonated with me – “This saying is hard; who can accept it.” One has to read the early verses of John:6 to understand what is being spoken about. It is there that Jesus begins the bread of life discourse. He talks about Himself as the bread of life, come down from heaven. Jesus professes that the bread from heaven is His very flesh. John 6:51 says, ‘This bread is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.” He goes on to say “whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day.” That is the hard saying, the one many cannot accept ….. and so, they leave.
We find this in our Church today. The Church protects the right to life from conception to natural death. The Church promotes chastity, living apart until marriage. The Church defends the sanctity of marriage as between one man and one woman. The Church protests artificial conception and encourages natural family planning. The Church advocates for the dignity of the human person regardless of race, nationally or creed. Many in our culture today find these teachings of the Church hard and difficult to accept … and so they leave.
If I were honest, I have not always fully understood the teachings of the Catholic Church. However, whenever I find them difficult to understand or accept, I imagine the scene in today’s Gospel. I place myself amongst the Twelve; I look into Christ’s eyes and imagine Him asking me the same question – “Do you also want to leave?”
Now I know many of us are discouraged by those who have left the Catholic Church or are no longer practicing the faith. It is painful, especially if they are family and friends. While I know that pain, I take great comfort in the power of the Holy Spirit and the graces poured on those who remain. Look at how Christ EMPOWERS Peter in our first reading from the Acts of The Apostles. In the name of Jesus, Peter heals and raises!
Will we ever say to one lying in a bed, “Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you. Get up and make your bed.” and that person will get up? Probably not. Will we ever say to one who has died, “Tabitha, rise up” and that person will open their eyes and sit up? Highly unlikely.
However, let us never underestimate the power given to those who say, “We have come to believe and are convinced that you are the Holy One of God.” Blessed are those who stay.