29 April, 2023 | Memorial of Saint Catherine of Siena, Virgin and Doctor of the Church

 Gospel Jn 6:60-69

Many of the disciples of Jesus who were listening said,

“This saying is hard; who can accept it?”

Since Jesus knew that his disciples were murmuring about this,

he said to them, “Does this shock you?

What if you were to see the Son of Man ascending to where he was before?

It is the Spirit that gives life, while the flesh is of no avail.

The words I have spoken to you are Spirit and life.

But there are some of you who do not believe.”

Jesus knew from the beginning the ones who would not believe

and the one who would betray him.

And he said, “For this reason I have told you that no one can come to me

unless it is granted him by my Father.”

As a result of this,

many of his disciples returned to their former way of life

and no longer walked with him.

Jesus then said to the Twelve, “Do you also want to leave?”

Simon Peter answered him, “Master, to whom shall we go?

You have the words of eternal life.

We have come to believe

and are convinced that you are the Holy One of God.”

Reflection : 

Human reason can do many things but cannot penetrate and embrace God’s revelation if faith is lacking. Our flesh is useless, but the Spirit gives us life. Therefore, the intervention of the Holy Spirit is necessary to accept the mysteries of faith. 

Today Jesus calls us to trust and believe in his words because he cannot fail us. His words are Spirit and life. When we fall, he lifts us; when we are hungry, he feeds and nourishes us with His body and blood, giving us eternal life. Therefore, it is worth knowing and following Christ as did St. Paul; then we will be able to say, “Lord, whom shall we go you have the words of eternal life.”

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