Gospel: May 10, 2025
May 10, 2025 (Saturday)
3rd Week of Easter
Psalter: Week 3 / (White)
St. John of Avila, priest and doctor
St. Damien Joseph de Veuster of Molokai, priest
Ps 116:12-13, 14-15, 16-17
How shall I make a return to the Lord for all the good he has done for me?
1st Reading: Acts 9:31-42
Gospel: John 6:60-69
After hearing this, many of Jesus’ followers said, “This language is very hard! Who can accept it?” Jesus was aware that his disciples were murmuring about this, and so he said to them, “Does this offend you? Then how will you react when you see the Son of Man ascending to where he was before? It is the spirit that gives life, not the flesh. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and they are life. But among you there are some who do not believe.” From the beginning, Jesus knew who would betray him. So he added, “As I have told you, no one can come to me unless it is granted by the Father.” After this many disciples withdrew and no longer followed him.
Jesus asked the Twelve, “Will you also go away?” Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We now believe and know that you are the Holy One of God.”
Reflection:
“To whom shall we go?”
Many disciples have followed Jesus up to the point of his preaching at Capernaum. His words become harder to fathom, and for many of them, harder to accept, so they start to drift away. This leads Jesus to ask his closest disciples if they want to leave too. Perhaps they were also struggling to understand what he means. But Peter speaks for them all, saying, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We now believe and know that you are the Holy One of God.” We believe; we know you are the Holy One of God. Deep faith changes everything. The realization that there is life in the Lord’s words and in our relationship with him gives us a foundation that is strong enough to withstand all the uncertainties and trials that might come our way. The life of faith has its mysteries and its uncertainties, but with a strong trust in Christ, we will stay with him, just like the apostles, even when we find something hard to understand. As Saint John Henry Newman wrote in his Apologia, “Ten thousand difficulties do not make one doubt.”
