"NO ONE CAN COME TO ME UNLESS
IT IS GRANTED HIM BY MY FATHER."
IT IS GRANTED HIM BY MY FATHER."
There comes a time in our life when we have to make important choices – choices that may have a repercussion on our state of life, our profession or work at hand, our plans and goals. The most fundamental choice concerns our relationship with Jesus Christ. We are constantly challenged to choose between faithfulness to his teachings and the allurements of the hedonistic world in which we are immersed.
This is a choice that demands both wisdom and generosity. Wisdom leads us to stand by Jesus. Generosity enables us to pay the price for choosing to follow Jesus. May today’s readings and Eucharist in which we participate lead us to make our own Peter’s humble statement: “Master, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.”
Many of Jesus’ disciples 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 accompanied 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.”
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 accompanied 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.”
