Twenty First Sunday in Ordinary Time (B)

August 26, 2018 

Readings:

First Reading: Joshua 24: 1-2a, 15-17, 18b

Psalm: 34

Second Reading: Ephesian 5: 21-32, or 5: 2a, 25-32

Gospel reading according to John 6: 60-69

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Homily:

This time, the followers of Jesus heard what he said that, “You eat my Flesh and drink my Blood, etc.” (cf. last Sunday (20^th) gospel reading, John 6: 51-58), which for them was abominable, monstrous, and forbidden to do according to their former life as in the Jewish custom, tradition, laws and of religion.  “Many of Jesus’ disciples who were listening said, ‘This saying is hard; who can accept it?’” (Jn. 6: 60).  They could not accept upon listening to what Jesus said for it was hard for them to go beyond the deeper meaning of what he told them to do, as his followers and disciples.  Many months and/or years since they were following and accompanying Jesus in his three years of public preaching ministry, but until now they could not comprehend what Jesus was teaching and preaching to them. 

Nevertheless, Jesus knew their hearts and minds, it could not escape in his psyche the manner of which his disciples in accepting and comprehending what he was saying to them.  “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’ . . .” (Jn. 6: 61-63).  The spirit teaches spiritual things, while the flesh teaches material and mundane things.  Jesus can hear what his disciples were complaining and murmuring (whispering), as if they were yelling near to his ears.  So, he asked them if this saying shocked them.  Still, his disciples were surprised to what he was revealing to them.  To make his disciples believe in him, he clarified and let them understand what he was teaching to them; he even gave another revelation, how about if they see him, the Son of Man, Jesus ascending to heaven where he came from. He was talking about the thing will happen in the future. This thing happened after his death on the Cross and his resurrection on the third day (according to the Apostles Creed, while others said forty days), then he ascended into heaven where he was before the time begun.  He revealed also to his disciples the function of the spirit, which is, it gives life while the flesh does not, but rather they are contradictory to one another.   

Jesus also was saying to his disciples that, “. . . ‘The words I have spoken to you are spirit and life.  But there are some of you who do not believe’.” (Jn. 6: 63-64).  His words have power and strength, knowledge and wisdom, i.e., spirit and life.  The truth that Jesus’ words carry is spirit and life for those who listen to him and believe.  But still, there were in his followers who did not believe him, and suspecting him of cannibalism.  

Although since the beginning of his ministry he knew there were there in his disciples who will deny him, abandon him and even betray him.  “Jesus knew from the beginning the ones who would not believe and the one who would betray him” (Jn. 6: 64). Even in this realization he allowed them to join in his group, for he still believed in them that they have chance to change in the end.  Like for example, the Jewish disciples who abandoned him and returned to their former life and Jewish religion, Simon Peter who denied him but later repented and forgiven, as compared to Judas who betrayed him but in the process he ended his life by hanging himself on a tree.

He again reminded his disciples as to the Father’s will in following his Son until the end or into eternal life.  Only the Father can allow us, his disciples, to come to his Son.  Without the Father’s consent and permission no one can live out the teachings and preaching of the one sent by God.  “And he said, ‘For this reason I have told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted by my Father’.” (Jn. 6: 65).  Only God can grant us to draw near and closer to Jesus.  God the Father can inspire us to listen and to live out the message of Jesus, His Son.

The more the disciples hardened their hearts when they heard that Jesus said that God is his Father, and that “no one can come to me unless it is granted by my Father,” so they left and abandoned Jesus.  “As a result of this, many of his disciples returned to their former way of life and no longer accompanied him” (Jn. 6: 66).  Almost all of his disciples went away from him.  They returned to their former belief, custom, tradition (their former religion), and life.

Only twelve out of thousand followers were left behind, the twelve apostles whom he sent two by two to different places and performed many miracles on his name.  “Jesus then said to the Twelve, ‘Do you also want to leave?” (Jn. 6: 67).  He asked them if they wanted also to leave and abandon him and all the things they have started, all of the things they have heard and learned and practice.

Simon Peter, the leader of the group, and on behalf of the eleven disciples, confessed his faith, hope, trust and confidence to Jesus’ words.  “Simon Peter answered him, ‘Master, to whom shall we go? You have the word of eternal life.  We have come to believe and are convinced that you are the Holy One of God’.” (Jn. 6: 68-69).  This is also our faith, our belief in the words of Jesus Christ and our Lord, the basis and foundation of our faith, “. . . to whom we shall go? You have the word of eternal life,” as Simon Peter declared.  Borrowing also Simon Peter’s admission, we can say, “We have come to believe and are convinced that you are the Holy One of God,” as he confessed.  Jesus the holy One of God, the Way, the Truth and the Life.