Coffee With God

Reflection: John 6: 60-69

A moment of crisis is a moment of choice. A crisis is a moment that forces us to make decisions. Is there anyone who has never come across moments of crisis in their lives – family crises, marriage crises, social crises, crisis in work? This pandemic is also a time of social crisis. Today’s gospel presents a moment of crisis in the life of the disciples of Jesus. “At that moment, many of his disciples left and no longer accompanied him,” says the Gospel. But Jesus refuses to dilute his message. Instead, he leads the apostles to make a decision. “Jesus said to the Twelve: Do you want to leave too? Make a decision.” (6:67) The answer of Peter becomes his second confession of faith: “Lord, who shall we go to? You have the words of eternal life and we have come to believe and are convinced that you are the Holy One of God.” In the same way as in his first confession – “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God” – here too, Peter may not have understood well the words of Jesus, to “eat my flesh, drink my blood” (cf 6: 54-56). But he trusts the Lord. Trust in God alone can help us to live in times of crisis. Pope Francis uses an expression from his native land of Argentina to explain this act of trust and faith. He says, “When you ride a horse and you have to cross a river, please do not change horses in the middle of the river.” In times of crisis, be very firm in your conviction of faith. Gospel says, “Many had left the company of Jesus.” They behaved like those who changed horses, and looked for another teacher who wasn’t as tough as Jesus was. In times of crisis what we need is perseverance, silence; stay firm where we are. This is not the time to make changes. It is a time of fidelity to God, of fidelity to the way of life we have chosen. May the Lord send us the Holy Spirit to be able to resist temptations in times of crisis, to know how to be faithful to the promises we have made to the Lord. Let us think of our crises: family crises, neighbourhood crises, crises in work. The moment of crisis is like passing through fire to become strong. Pope Francis urges the faithful to learn to manage both moments of peace and moments of crisis. To trust or not to trust Jesus is the choice every individual has to make. The proposal to welcome Jesus, the bread which came down from heaven can be accepted or rejected but not negotiated, modified, or made more acceptable by cancelling some of its demands.