20 April 2024 - Only By Grace Reflections

First Reading: Acts 9: 31-42
Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 116: 12-13, 14-15, 16-17
Alleluia: John 6: 63c, 68c
Gospel: John 6: 60-69

Many were attracted to Jesus because He offered them something irresistible -- God's loving-kindness and mercy made manifest in His wonderful works of healing, deliverance, and miraculous feeding of the five thousand. Despite these signs, many stumbled, when Jesus made divine claims.  Jesus' discourse on "eating his flesh and drinking his blood" which pointed to the Last Supper, caused offence to many of His followers. Jesus claimed to be the very life of God come down from heaven and that no one could live this life without submitting to him. Even the apostles admitted that this was a "hard saying".  This expression meant that it was not just hard to understand, but hard to accept.  Jesus pressed the issue with his beloved disciples because he wanted to test their faith and loyalty. Jesus assures His disciples that it is his heavenly Father who invites and who gives the grace to follow even in the "hard sayings".  Jesus knew that some would not only reject him and His word, but would do so hostilely, even betraying Him to His enemies.

Real faith seeks understanding.  That is why God gives us the help of the Holy Spirit to enlighten the eyes of our mind to understand his truth and wisdom. Jesus offers His life-giving word and Spirit to those who believe and who submit to his authority.  Peter’s profession of loyalty was based on a personal relationship with Jesus.  Through the gift of faith Peter knew that Jesus was the Messiah, the Holy One of God, and he believed in his words. Faith is a response to God's revelation. It's the key to seeing God work in our lives with power.  Do we believe, as