Jos 24: 1-2a.15-17.18b; Ps 33 (34); Eph 5,21-32; Jn 6.60-69

«This language is harsh; who can understand it?». «Lord, to whom will we go? you have words of eternal life». The long discourse in the synagogue of Capernaum ends with this opposite reaction of many disciples who abandon Jesus, and of Peter who in the name of the Twelve decides to stay. We are thus urged to confront these two opposite reactions: is Jesus’ a hard word, or a word of life? If we reread the long discourse in the synagogue of Capernaum, we realize that those who leave discuss Jesus or murmur against him, without however ever entering into an authentic and interpersonal dialogue with him. Only Peter knows how to do it, calling him you: «Lord … you have words …». Probably not even Peter understood all of what Jesus said. He will only be able to do it after Easter. However, he understood the essential: what matters is to remain with Jesus, to abide in a personal relationship with him. Only in this way can we welcome his word as a life event. Just as love leads us to become one flesh between a bridegroom and a bride, it is in our communion with Jesus, in becoming in him one body, of which we are members, that we can fully understand his words. Those words that he says, especially that word that he himself is.

Commentary by Comunità di Dumenza

Translation by f. Mark Hargreaves, Prinknash Abbey