Twenty.first Sunday in Ordinary Time B Jn 60-69

Who do I follow in life?
Let’s re-evaluate the priorities we live for, which is the goal of our lives.

If someone asks you questions: Who are you? What personality are you? How do you enrich the surrounding people?
Indeed, you have the experience that people under the influence of alcohol are best avoided. The proverb says to know a bird by feathers and a man by speech. He promises, he promises, but no deed. Are we not among those whom people listen to in silence and leave alone?

About St. To Thomas from Aquino, his professor said in front of the students: “When this dumb ox, as you call Thomas, speaks, the whole world will  be silent.

We read of Jesus in the Gospel that “after the sabbath, he taught, and they were amazed at his teaching because his word had power” (Lk 4:32). Who can listen to this ?!” (Jn 6:60)

Jesus is a strong personality, and a strong character will always arouse resentment in some people around you. Jesus also had admirers, but also opponents. For many of Jesus’ listeners, his words are harsh. And so, some departed from him. Others stayed. Which were better and which were worse? Not only did Jesus speak, but he also proved in life that his words were “Spirit and life” (Jn 6:63). Jesus said to the Twelve, “Do you also want to go away?” (Jn 6: 66-67) Jesus did not stop saying that whoever wants to enter eternal life must eat his body and drink his blood. After all, it is the Eucharist, which is the source of eternal life but also the cause of apostasy. Many left, but Judas stayed. He did not believe and did not leave. He remained with Jesus, even though he did not think. Jesus does not force anyone. In the Eucharist, we either receive Jesus with faith and share in graces, gifts, or we receive without faith; that is, we reject and cannot go unpunished. It is the secret of dignity and human freedom. The philosopher Hegel was to say that his philosophy was understood by only one of his students and not quite at all. Jesus could also comment on the many leaving him: They do not understand me, and they are going. They open up to me little, trust little, think little about what I teach, what I do, what I promise… It is also great with Jesus that he accepts them; he waits like a father for a prodigal son. One can be blinded, deceived, deceived by the devil and his practices. When they say, “It’s hard speech! Who can listen to this ?!” (Jn 6:60), they forget to realize that the truth is often complicated when it shows a person how small he is. Many abandon Jesus when he demands more sacrifices, duties. They forget that God will also give a fair reward. Also leaving is the God of the belly, money, bottle, sex, power, or popularity.
The culmination of the whole part of the Gospel of John, to which we have paid attention during the five Sundays, are the words of Peter the Apostle, who speaks on behalf of the apostles: “Lord, and to whom would we go? You have the words of eternal life. And we have believed and come to know that you are the Holy One of God.” (Jn 6: 68-69) Peter’s words speak of a desire to work with God’s grace. The Holy Spirit speaks through the mouth of Peter, who loves Christ and desires to live with him. He does not know that he will defend Jesus with a sword in his hand, but that he will also betray him. At the right moment, Peter correctly distinguishes, considers, and is guided by the Holy Spirit. He trusts Jesus. He believes that Jesus’ words are valid, even though he does not yet fully understand them.

“It’s hard to talk!” (Jn 6:60) Even today, the frequent reaction of those who do not want to see, hear, experience … A blindly in love person, or one who does not deserve love, can find true happiness? A man in love with sin leaves Jesus. For one who loves vice, Jesus’ words are harsh. Jesus loves them even then. How many call their troubles, sickness, and Jesus still offers the means to change, drawing attention to the evil state of their souls, the wrong meaning of life, the possibility of changing their return.
Surely, you will know that at the hour of death, someone reconciled to God for the prayers of others. He may have departed from Jesus years ago, but returned to witness others in God’s love. The one we know and feel primarily through the Eucharist. Many say, as Peter received the Eucharist, “Lord, and to whom would we go? You have the words of eternal life. And we have believed and come to know that you are the Holy One of God.” (Jn 6: 68-69) And it is their faith with love that is rewarded, heard by the Eucharistic Christ. We, therefore, have the right to beg for others. But God requires our faithfulness.

We realize that Jesus gives himself food to us in various ways. His sacrifice, love, word, but also body and blood, and none of these ways are useless. It depends on our loyalty, steadfastness, and dedication, with which we submit our prayers, but also how we live. Peter is clear: “You have the words of eternal life. And we have believed and come to know that you are the Holy One of God.” (Jn 6: 68-69)

Nobel laureate Henryk Sienkiewicz in the travel-adventure novel In the Desert and Rainforest, introduces a young boy, Stasia Tarkowski, who did not deny his faith, which he took away from his parents’ house, at a critical moment. Kidnapped with his girlfriend Nela, he has a daring conversation with the ruthless Mahdi. Mahdi asks, “Will you accept my teaching?” To this, Stasia, with the hand he held on his chest, blessed himself as he was drowning in a boat before jumping into the water, and said, “I do not know your teaching. If I accepted your teachings out of fear, I would be like a rogue dishonest. And do you care that your faith is professed by Thorn or mean people? I’m sorry, I’m going to be a Christian!”

We always want to remain faithful to Christ. Christ is our Teacher, our goal. We have believed his words and have come to know that Jesus is “the Holy One of God” (Jn 6:69). Let us ask for perseverance on the path to Christ.