WATCHWORD:
52 Then the Jews began arguing with each other about what he meant. “How can this man give us his flesh to eat?” they asked. 53 So Jesus said it again, “With all the earnestness I possess I tell you this: Unless you eat the flesh of the Messiah* and drink his blood, you cannot have eternal life within you. 54 But anyone who does eat my flesh and drink my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him at the Last Day. 55 For my flesh is the true food, and my blood is the true drink.56 Everyone who eats my flesh and drinks my blood is in me, and I in him. 57 I live by the power of the living Father who sent me, and in the same way those who partake of me shall live because of me! 58 I am the true Bread from heaven; and anyone who eats this Bread shall live forever, and not die as your fathers did—though they ate bread from heaven.” 59 (He preached this sermon in the synagogue in Capernaum.)
60 Even his disciples said, “This is very hard to understand. Who can tell what he means?”
61 Jesus knew within himself that his disciples were complaining and said to them, “Does this offend you? 62 Then what will you think if you see me, the Messiah, return to heaven again? 63 Only the Holy Spirit gives eternal life. Those born only once, with physical birth, will never receive this gift. But now I have told you how to get this true spiritual life. 64 But some of you don’t believe me.” (For Jesus knew from the beginning who didn’t believe and knew the one who would betray him.) 65 And he remarked, “That is what I meant when I said that no one can come to me unless the Father attracts him to me.”
66 At this point many of his disciples turned away and deserted him. 67 Then Jesus turned to the Twelve and asked, “Are you going too?” 68 Simon Peter replied, “Master, to whom shall we go? You alone have the words that give eternal life, 69 and we believe them and know you are the holy Son of God.” John 6:52-69
Meditation:
Do You Trust God?
That was a big bite of Scripture, but the message is pretty clear to us. Many of Jesus’ disciples were having a hard time understanding the analogy, taking some of it literally and it upset them, to the point where some gave up and missed the powerful witness of Peter in verses 68 and 69. We, of the Resurrection, have an understanding of the sacraments and their meaning, and it is there that we place our trust.
Think of this bit of wisdom: Trust is a synonym of faith. Let’s take this one step further, you can’t obey God until you trust him. Do you believe that? it does make sense. You wouldn’t listen to someone you don’t trust, and frankly, it’s hard to get along with a person that you don’t trust.
In Colossians 3:15-17, we read “Let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts…Let the message about Christ, in all its richness, fill your lives. Teach and counsel each other with all the wisdom He gives. Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts. and whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father.” Unless you trust God, following this admonition would be near impossible.
Trust equals Faith, which brings Joy. How about that? Because of what Christ has done for us, we have peace with God. That all can only be achieved with a strong faith, and our obedience. Can we fully appreciate how our faith in Christ has moved us into undeserved privilege where are we look forward to joyfully sharing God’s Glory.
I don’t want to cheapen that message, but I can’t help but think about the “Get out of jail free card” that, as a child, we loved when playing the game Monopoly. When we embrace Christ fully and completely in our lives, we know that when we run into problems and trials, our faith in Christ will get us through.
I close with this reassurance from Ephesians 2:8-9: Because of his kindness, you have been saved through trusting Christ. And even trusting is not of yourselves; it, too, is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good we have done, so none of us can take any credit for it. When we know that the Peace of Christ comes with Trusting Him, then we know, with confidence, that His Peace rules in our hearts. Amen.
Jesus Went into the Mountains with His Disciples; and He Began to Teach Them, Saying:
Blessed are the poor in spirit.
Blessed are those who mourn.
Blessed are the peacemakers.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness. And Peter said: Will this be in the test?
And Philip said: Were we supposed to write this down?
And James said: I haven’t got a pen.
And Bartholomew said: Did the other disciples have to learn this?
And Judas said: When will we ever need this in real life?
And some Pharisees came to Jesus and said to him: May we see your lesson plan? Was the learning objective clearly communicated to all students? Was there a range of differentiated outcomes according to the identified levels of ability of each student? Can you show that you have used a variety of teaching strategies according to the different learning models? And Jesus wept.
Praying for Trust:
Loving God, there are times when the burdens I carry and the disappointments that come my way seem too much to bear. Lord, my daily tasks seem to mount up with every passing week, and however much I manage to get done I never seem to do all that I ought to do. I find myself stressing out and worrying about all the things that I have left undone.
I know that this is not the way that the Christian life should be lived, and although I have heard people preach on living in a way that is pleasing to You, I never seem to manage to live that way myself. Lord, if I am honest I don’t really understand how to live a life that is pleasing to You, even though I have tried so very hard.
Help me to do what the Bible says, to cast all my burdens on You and to let You be my full sufficiency. When the disappointments in my life seem to be piling up all around me, help me to trust You with all my heart and not lean on my own understanding, or rely on myself. Help me to seek You first, knowing that all the other things will be added unto me. Help me to trust You instead of trusting in myself.
Lord, You have promised to guide all Your children in all truth. Teach me Your truth of abiding in You and trusting in Your Word. I ask this in the name of Jesus,
Amen.
