1. Pope Francis today<\/a>: <\/p>\n faithfulness to God is a question of faithfulness to a person, with whom we are joined in order to walk together along the same road. All that we have in the world does not satisfy our hunger for the infinite. We need Jesus, to remain with Him, to nourish ourselves at His table, on His words of eternal life! To believe in Jesus means making Him the centre, the meaning of our life. Christ is not an accessory element: He is the \u201cliving bread,\u201d the indispensable nourishment. Attaching ourselves to Him, in a true relationship of faith and love, does not mean being chained, but [rather] profoundly free, always on a journey.\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n 2. Today\u2019s Mass readings.<\/a> <\/p>\n 3. From Pope Benedict XVI in 2009<\/a>:<\/p>\n \nYou know that for several Sundays the Liturgy has proposed for our reflection Chapter Six of John\u2019s Gospel, in which Jesus presents himself as the \u201cBread of life\u2026 which came down from Heaven\u201d, and, he adds: \u201cif anyone eats of this bread, he will live for ever: and the bread which I shall give for the life of the world is my flesh\u201d (Jn 6: 51). To the Jews who were arguing heatedly among themselves, questioning: \u201cHow can this man give us his flesh to eat?\u201d (v. 52) and the world still debates it Jesus replies in every age: \u201cunless you eat the flesh of the Son of man and drink his blood, you have no life in you\u201d (v. 53). We too should reflect on whether we have really understood this message. Today, the 21st Sunday of Ordinary Time, let us meditate on the last part of this chapter in which the Fourth Evangelist mentions the reaction of the people and of the disciples themselves. They were shocked by the Lord\u2019s words to the point that having followed him until then they exclaimed: \u201cThis is a hard saying; who can listen to it?\u201d (v. 60). After this, \u201cmany of his disciples drew back and no longer went about with him\u201d (v. 66) and the same thing has happened over and over again in various periods of history. One might expect Jesus to seek compromises to make himself better understood, but he does not mitigate what he says. On the contrary, he turns directly to the Twelve and asks them: \u201cWill you also go away?\u201d (v. 67).<\/p>\n This provocative question is not only addressed to listeners in his time, but also reaches the believers and people of every epoch. Today too, many are \u201cshocked\u201d by the paradox of the Christian faith. Jesus\u2019 teaching seems \u201chard\u201d, too difficult to accept and to put into practice. Then there are those who reject it and abandon Christ; there are those who seek to \u201cadapt his\u201d word to the fashions of the times, misrepresenting its meaning and value. \u201cWill you also go away?\u201d This disturbing provocation resounds in our hearts and expects a personal answer from each one; it is a question addressed to each one of us. Jesus is not content with superficial and formal belonging, a first and enthusiastic adherence is not enough for him; on the contrary, what is necessary is to take part for one\u2019s whole life \u201cin his thinking and in his willing\u201d. Following him fills our hearts with joy and gives full meaning to our existence, but it entails difficulties and sacrifices because very often we must swim against the tide.<\/p>\n \u201cWill you also go away?\u201d. Peter answers Jesus\u2019 question on the Apostles\u2019 behalf, and in the name of believers of every century: \u201cLord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life; and we have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God\u201d (vv. 68-69).<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n 4. Homily notes from Fr. Roger Landry<\/a>:<\/p>\n \nGod created us free so that we might love, and the greatest example of love we find in the Eucharist, when Jesus shows us the greatest of all loves, to lay down one\u2019s life for his friends (Jn 15:13). Today the Lord puts before us his own example and says, \u201cDo THIS in memory of me,\u201d which means \u201clove one another as I have loved you,\u201d in this same Eucharistic, self-giving manner. Today the Lord places before us the choice he placed before his disciples in Capernaum \u2014 \u201cDo you believe?\u201d or \u201cDo you wish to go away?\u201d Today Joshua challenges us to \u201cchoose today who you will serve.\u201d We ask the Lord\u2019s help so that like St. Peter, we may say, \u201cLord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life!.\u201d We ask his assistance so that today, when the priest says, \u201cThe Body of Christ,\u201d we may say \u201cAmen!\u201d to the truth of the Lord\u2019s real presence in the Eucharist not just with our lips but with our whole beings. We ask his grace to choose Him as completely as He has chosen us (Jn 15:16).<\/p><\/blockquote>\n 5. <\/p>\n \"This is a hard saying; who can accept it?\" (Jn 6:60) ~ A Sunday reflection on the freedom of choice and a prayer. http:\/\/t.co\/CnILEZxCKl<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Adopt-a-Priest (@adopt_a_priest) August 23, 2015<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n