In the first reading today from Acts 9, we see a blossoming Church. It is growing rapidly, even with the great persecution she was suffering. Peter raises a woman from the dead, and because of that, many came to believe. In the Gospel reading today, we finish up in John 6.
After Jesus talked about eating His Flesh and drinking His Blood, many of the people were upset. They figured he was some nut job talking about cannibalism. So what happened? “As a result of this, many of his disciples returned to their former way of life and no longer walked with him.” Did Jesus call them back? Did He try to clear up some terrible misunderstanding? Nope. He turned to the Twelve and asked them, “Do you also want to leave?” And Peter answers, “Master, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.”
It's common knowledge that more and more people are leaving the Church. The reasons are many. But I believe that no one who truly understood and believed could walk away from the Eucharist. Those early disciples left because they didn't have the faith to take Jesus at His word. Do you? As others walk out the door, perhaps never to return, can you hear Jesus asking you that big question? I suspect Jesus' heart was broken when all those folks left. And I'm sure it still does.
Father, give us the faith to take Jesus at His word. May we never leave His Holy Church, no matter what others are doing. Amen.
Do you have friends/family who leave the Church because they don't understand the Mass? Get them a copy of A Minute in the Church: The Mass at www.GusLloyd.com today.
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