JOHN 6:60-69: SATURDAY'S GOSPEL FOR REFLECTION
Obi OBIEKWE
Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam (To the Greater Glory of God)
For: Saturday, April 24, 1999
From: John 6:60-69
The Disciples' Reaction
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[60] Many of His (Jesus') disciples, when they heard of it, said, "This
is a hard saying; who can listen to it?" [61] But Jesus, knowing in
Himself that His disciples murmured at it, said to them, "Do you take
offense at this? [62] Then what if you were to see the Son of Man
ascending where He was before? [63] It is the Spirit that gives life,
the flesh is of no avail; the words that I have spoken to you are
spirit and life. [64] But there are some of you that do not believe."
For Jesus knew from the first who those were that did not believe, and
who it was that should betray Him. [65] And He said, "This is why I
told you that no one can come to Me unless it is granted him by the
Father."
[66] After this many of the disciples drew back and no longer went with
Him. [67] Jesus said to the Twelve, "Will you also go away?" [68]
Simon Peter answered Him, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the
words of eternal life; [69] and we have believed, and have come to
know, that You are the Holy One of God."
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Commentary:
60-62. Many of His listeners find the Eucharistic mystery completely
incomprehensible. Jesus Christ requires His disciples to accept His
words because it is He who has spoken them. That is what the
supernatural act of faith involves--that act "whereby, inspired and
assisted by the grace of God, we believe that the things which He has
revealed are true; not because of the intrinsic truth of the things,
viewed by the natural light of reason, but because of the authority of
God Himself who reveals them, and who can neither be deceived nor
deceive" (Vatican I, "Dei Filius", Chapter 3).
As on other occasions, Jesus speaks about future events to help His
disciples believe: "I have told you before it takes place, so that when
it does take place, you may believe" (John 14:29).
63. Jesus says that we cannot accept this mystery if we think of it in
too human a way, in other words, by just seeking to indulge our senses
or having too earthbound a view of things. Only someone who listens to
His words and receives them as God's revelation, which is "spirit and
life", is in a position to accept them.
66. The promise of the Eucharist, which caused arguments (verse 52)
among Christ's hearers at Capernaum and scandalized some of them (verse
61), led many people to give up following Him. Jesus had outlined a
wonderful and salvific truth, but those disciples closed themselves to
divine grace; they were not ready to accept anything which went beyond
their very limited horizons. The mystery of the Eucharist does call
for a special act of faith. St. John Chrysostom therefore advised
Christians: "Let us in everything believe God, and gainsay Him in
nothing, though what it said be contrary to our thoughts and senses.
[...] Let us act likewise in respect to the [Eucharistic] mysteries,
not looking at the things set before us, but keeping in mind His
words. For His words cannot deceive" (St. John Chrysostom, "Hom. on
St. Matthew", 82).
67-71. This passage is similar to that at Capernaum where Peter again,
in the name of the Twelve, takes the initiative in expressing his faith
in Jesus as Messiah (cf. Matthew 16:13-20; Mark 8:27-30). Other people
present may have been unbelieving, but the Apostles are not scandalized
by our Lord's words: they say that they have already a deep-rooted
confidence in Him; they do not want to leave Him. What St. Peter says
(verse 68) is not just a statement of human solidarity but an
expression of genuine supernatural faith--as yet imperfect--which is
the result of the influence of divine grace on his soul (cf. Matthew
16:17).
Although the Twelve stay with Him at this point, Judas will later betray
the Master. Jesus' foreknowledge of this future infidelity throws a
shadow over His joy at the loyalty of the Twelve. We Christians should
be humble enough to realize that we are capable of betraying our Lord
if we give up using the means He has left us to cleave to Him. St.
Peter's words (verse 68) are a beautiful aspiration we can use whenever
we feel tempted.
68. Simon Peter expresses the feelings of the Apostles who, through
staying loyal to Jesus, are getting to know Him much better and
becoming more closely involved with Him: "Seek Jesus; endeavoring to
acquire a deep personal faith that will inform and direct your whole
life. But, above all, let it be your commitment and your program to
love Jesus, with a sincere, authentic and personal love. He must be
your friend and your support along the path of life. He alone has
words of eternal life" ([Pope] John Paul II, "Address to Students in
Guadalajara", 30 January 1979).
69. "The Holy One of God": this is what the original text must have
said, according to most of the Greek codexes and the most important
early translations. "The Holy One" is one of the expressions which
designate the Messiah (cf. Mark 1:24; Luke 1:35; 4:34; Acts 2:27; Psalm
16:10), or God Himself (cf. Isaiah 6:3; 43:15; 1 Peter 1:15; 1 John
2:20; etc.). The rendering "the Christ, the Son of God" found in some
translations, including the Vulgate, is supported by less important
Greek manuscripts, and would seem to be an explanation of the messianic
significance of the original phrase.
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[ Set your mind on God's kingdom and His justice before everything else
[ and all the rest will come to you as well. (Matthew 6:33)
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