Sunday Gospel Reflection
Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of everlasting life

Introduction:

Reasons for Leaving, Reasons for Staying Why do you like to go to Church? What holds you in weekly worship when there are so many other things to do on Sunday?

Why do people leave the Church? Maybe this is the wrong question to ask. Shouldn't we pose a different question? Why do so many people go to Mass when there are so many other things to do on a Sunday? Doesn't sleeping in, reading the Sunday paper at a leisurely pace, sharing a relaxing brunch, or watching an exciting NFL game sound so much better than Sunday worship? But people still show up for Mass, week after week. Why?

Does Mass just fulfill a personal need? Or, does the need run deeper?

Does the need begin and end with Jesus?

First Reading
Joshua 24;1-2, 15-18

1 Then Joshua gathered all the tribes of Israel to Shechem, and summoned the elders, the heads, the judges, and the officers of Israel; and they presented themselves before God.
2 And Joshua said to all the people, "Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, 'Your fathers lived of old beyond the Euphrates, Terah, the father of Abraham and of Nahor; and they served other gods.
...
15 And if you be unwilling to serve the LORD, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell; but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.
16 Then the people answered, "Far be it from us that we should forsake the LORD, to serve other gods;
17 for it is the LORD our God who brought us and our fathers up from the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage, and who did those great signs in our sight, and preserved us in all the way that we went, and among all the peoples through whom we passed;
18 and the LORD drove out before us all the peoples, the Amorites who lived in the land; therefore we also will serve the LORD, for he is our God."

Second Reading
Ephesians 5:21-32

21 Be subject to one another out of reverence for Christ. 22 Wives, be subject to your husbands, as to the Lord.
23 For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior.
24 As the church is subject to Christ, so let wives also be subject in everything to their husbands.
25 Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her,
26 that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word,
27 that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish.
28 Even so husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself.
29 For no man ever hates his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, as Christ does the church,
30 because we are members of his body.
31 "For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh."
32 This is a great mystery, and I mean in reference to Christ and the church.

Gospel Reading
John 6:60-69

51 I am the living bread which came down from heaven; if any one eats of this bread, he will live for ever; and the bread which I shall give for the life of the world is my flesh."
52 The Jews then disputed among themselves, saying, "How can this man give us his flesh to eat?"
53 So Jesus said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of man and drink his blood, you have no life in you;
54 he who eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day.
55 For my flesh is food indeed, and my blood is drink indeed.
56 He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me, and I in him.
57 As the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so he who eats me will live because of me.
58 This is the bread which came down from heaven, not such as the fathers ate and died; he who eats this bread will live for ever."
59 This he said in the synagogue, as he taught at Caper'na-um.

Bible Study/Meditation

Do you treat lightly or resist the hard sayings of Jesus? Many were attracted to Jesus because he offered them something irresitible -- God's loving-kindness and mercy made manifest in his wonderful works of healing, deliverance, and the miraculous feeding of the five thousand. Many stumbled, however, when Jesus made claims which required their allegiance and surrender to him as the one with final God-given authority.

Jesus' discourse on "eating his flesh and drinking his blood" (see John 6:51-59) which pointed to the Last Supper, caused offence to many of his followers. Jesus claimed to be the very life of God come down from heaven and that no one could live this life without submitting to him. Even the apostles admitted that this was a "hard saying".  This expression meant that it was not just hard to understand, but hard to accept.

Jesus pressed the issue with his beloved disciples because he wanted to test their faith and loyalty. Jesus assures his disciples that it is his heavenly Father who invites and who gives the grace to follow even in the "hard sayings". 

Jesus knew that some would not only reject him and his word, but would do so with hostility, even betraying him to his enemies.

Genuine faith seeks understanding.  That is why God gives us the help of the Holy Spirit to enlighten the eyes of our mind to understand his truth and wisdom (Ephes. 1:17-18). Jesus offers his life-giving word and Spirit to those who believe and who submit to his authority.
Peter's profession of loyalty was based on a personal relationship with Jesus.   Through the gift of faith Peter knew that Jesus was the Messiah,the Holy One of God, and he believed in his words. Faith is a response to God's revelation. It's the key to seeing God work in our lives with power.
Do you believe, as Peter did, that Jesus can change your life because he has the words of everlasting life?  Ask the Lord to increase your faith that you may grow
in your relationship with him and in the knowledge of his love for you.

Reflections:

· Please re-read the phrase(s)/sentence(s) that move(s)/touche(s) you and what inner message of the heart is the Spirit whispering to you?

.You are present among the crowds. What is your reaction to Jesus' teachings? How do you think Jesus felt after many of His disciples stopped following Him?

.Have you ever found something, or some teachings, hard to accept and how does this passage address that situation?

.What was your motive in coming to Jesus? What is your motive now for remaining in Him?

. Those who reject Christ and his Church are called to return by means we may never know. So, those who leave the Catholic Church for another community, and those who leave Christianity altogether need to be treated with respect and charity, not distance and disdain. For our actions may be part of God's plan that will
eventually bring the lost back to Christ and the fulness of Christian life.
  ----Do you know of someone who has left the Church or rejected Christ? What sort of relationship do you have with that person? How can you help them return?

. In an era of "cafeteria Christianity" let usr remember why we are Catholics, but let us also empathize with those who have doubts. Let us lead those in a faith crisis by prayer, compassion, and honesty. Finally, let us remember that faith and faithfulness are gifts from God. We cannot impose them on others.
  ----Take a moment to reflect on your relationship with Christ. How has your trust in Jesus grown with your maturity in the Christian life? Where would you like to take that relationship? Where do you think Christ wants to take that relationship? Take a few steps closer to Christ this week.

Prayer

Lord Jesus, you have the words of everlasting life.Help me to cast aside doubt and fear and to embrace your word with trust and joy.  I surrender my life to you. Be the Lord and Captain of my heart, my will, my thoughts and my actions.  May there be nothing which keeps me from you and your love.