Meditation point
Gospel of John 6:60-63
In this passage we see that many disciples leave Jesus, saying this is an hard saying, who can hear this. This event take place after a long description of Jesus about eucharist. In all other teachings Jesus uses parables, metaphors and analogies. But so is not the case with teaching regarding Qurbana. In this case Jesus teaches directly. This mystery cannot be comprehend by intellect. We need to see this with the eyes of Faith. Those who fail to comprehend this, responds negatively. Thereafter they never walk with Jesus. Many of his disciples
Not of the twelve, nor of the seventy, but of the multitude of the disciples, who followed him from place to place, attended on his ministry, and might be baptized in his name leave him. the reason to fail to understand the this divine mystery is their humanly approach to this divine mystery.
The Gospel also causes people to stumble because it is costly. When Christ calls us to eat his flesh and to drink his blood, he is inviting us to participate in his death. The Christians who first read this Gospel experienced persecution. They knew martyred Christians, suffered under the threat of martyrdom, and knew Christians who avoided martyrdom by compromising their faith.
The Gospel with no offense, however, is like a surgeon with no scalpel—having no power to heal. Christ, truly revealed, will always be an offense except to the redeemed. The cross will always be an offense, except to the redeemed. The church must always be ready to give offense—to speak out for Christ and against the destructive beliefs and behaviors that the world finds so attractive
Then what if you would see the Son of Man ascending to where he was before?” (v. 62). These disciples were offended by Jesus’ claim to be the “bread which came down out of heaven” (v. 58).
“It is the spirit who gives life; the flesh (sarx) profits nothing” (v. 63a). On the one hand, it seems natural that Jesus would say that the sarx is useless. In this Gospel as well as elsewhere in the New Testament, sarx is often used to contrast that which is worldly with that which is Godly (1:13; 3:6; Romans 7:5; 8:3; 13:14; 1 Corinthians 3:1; Galatians 3:3).
A key theme of this Gospel is that the Word has become sarx and lived among us (1:14). Jesus has just promised that those who eat his sarx and drink his blood abide in him (v. 56).
The words that I speak to you are spirit, and are life” (v. 63b). In this verse, Spirit deserves a capital S, because it has to do with the Holy Spirit—God’s Spirit. In this Gospel, Jesus will impart the Holy Spirit to the disciples on the first Easter (20:22), but the Spirit is already active, having come to rest upon Jesus at his baptism (1:32). Jesus’ words impart Spirit and life to the disciples."But there are some of you who don’t believe.’ For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were who didn’t believe, and who it was who would betray him” (v. 64). Early critics of Christianity claimed that Jesus’ choice of Judas as an apostle proved Jesus’ fallibility. This Gospel says that he knew that he would be betrayed, and knew who the betrayer would be (see also 6:71; 13:11, 21). The betrayal will be evil, but Jesus will not permit evil to have the final word.
The murmering disciples who do not recognize the mystery of qurbana lives even today. Majorty lives merely as practicing Christians. Many even the chosen ones often fail to explore the treasure of qurbana.
So dear brothers, Take a moment and put yourself in the disciples’ shoes. How would you respond if Jesus were saying all of this to you? Why do we grumble against God In our hardest times?
How I experience Jesus in my daily qurbana? Whether I have grown to extract strength from qurbana to face my daily cross?
Let us meditate and make good resolution to improve ourselves.
🙏🙏🙏
Bro. Kolakunnel Jins
Good Shepherd Major Seminary kunnoth
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