Gospel reading: John 6:60-69
Many, who are already Christians, cannot accept the hard teachings of the gospel. “Then many of his disciples who were listening said, ‘This saying is hard; who can accept it?’” (v.60b).
* The call to self-denial and not to be self-referential.
* The call to embrace the cross and eschew the prosperity gospel.
* The call to do really massive evangelization, such as reaching 10 million lapsed Catholics with the gospel in 7 years.
Jesus says, “It is the spirit that gives life, while the flesh is of no avail. (v.63a). But there are those who still indulge in the flesh, not with obvious works such as impurity and licentiousness, but with perhaps less obvious works of the flesh such as dissensions and factions (see Gal 5:19-20). When a community cannot move forward in the one vision and mission as enunciated by its leader, then it is in trouble. When brethren in a community will not wholeheartedly accept the directions of its founder, then it cannot fully carry on with the work he, and they, are tasked to do. “But there are some of you who do not believe.” (v.64a).
Lack of belief can even lead to betrayal (v.64b). We already experienced this in 2007.
Jesus said, “The words I have spoken to you are spirit and life.” (v.63b). I would like to believe I speak in the same way to my brethren in CFC-FFL.
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