John 6:60-69
Lead in: In John 6, Jesus boldly tells the crowds, “Unless you eat my flesh, you have no life within you.” On hearing this, many decided to leave Jesus. In a homily, Pope Francis offers insight as to why this happened. In saying this, Jesus indicated that God’s love for the world would be manifested not in grandeur and power but in the weakness of human flesh. Such is the mystery of the Incarnation. God so loved the world that God lowered Himself in becoming like us. In doing so, He took on the weakness of our own flesh and blood. That was the scandalous turn-off that caused most there that day to no longer follow Jesus.
Prompt: Reflect on a time when you saw God manifested not in grandeur and power but in the weakness of human flesh.
Prompt: In your experience of being a Catholic, has there been any “scandalous turn-offs” that have made you want to walk away from the Church? How did you deal with them?
Lead in: In John 6:66, Jesus said things that were hard for his followers to swallow. At that point, many who walked with Jesus would have no part of it, so they walked away.
Prompt: Reflect on a time when you were initially excited about something, but when you realized what it would cost you, you lost your enthusiasm which caused you to almost give up on the dream.
Lead in: Sensing that his words were not sitting well with his listeners, Jesus wanted to see where the twelve apostles stood. So, he put out the question, “Do you also want to leave?” In other words, “Who’s in? Who’s still with me? I need to know.”
Prompt: Reflect on a time when someone challenged you to see where you stood, and you responded to the challenge.
Prompt: Reflect on a time when someone challenged you to see where you stood, and you backed down from the challenge.
Lead in: When Jesus asked the twelve, “Are you too, going to leave me?” Peter spoke up, “Master, to whom shall we go?”
Prompt: Have you ever had a moment when you were up against a wall, and like Peter you said to Jesus, “Master, to whom shall I go?”
Lead in: In Johsua 24:1-2, Joshua summoned the elders of the twelve tribes of Israel. “If it does not please you to serve the Lord, decide today (which gods) you will serve.”
Prompt: What are the things in your life that could subtly become your god? What do you do to keep it from becoming that?
