MEDITATION OF THE DAY(Scripture John 6:60-69)
THEME: “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.

Why do some find it easy and others find it hard 
to accept the claims which Jesus made? Many were attracted to Jesus because 
he offered them something irresitible – a visible sign of God's mercy and 
favor which Jesus demonstrated in his wonderful works of healing, deliverance, 
and the miraculous feeding of the five thousand. Many stumbled, however, 
when Jesus made claims which only God can make. Jesus' discourse on "eating 
his flesh and drinking his blood" (see John 6:51-59) which pointed 
to the Last Supper, caused offence to many of his followers. Jesus claimed 
to be the bread of heaven, the very life of God given to us as spiritual 
food to sustain us on our journey to the promised land of heaven. Jesus 
did not leave any middle ground for his hearers. They must either accept 
his word as divine or reject it as the claim of an imposter. Even the apostles 
admitted that this was a "hard saying". This expression meant that it was 
not just hard to understand, but hard to accept. Jesus pressed the issue 
with his beloved disciples because he wanted to test their faith and loyalty. 
Jesus promised his disciples nothing less than the full blessing of eternal 
life and union with God. Jesus assures his disciples that it is his heavenly 
Father who invites and who gives the grace to follow even in the "hard 
sayings". Jesus knew that some would not only reject him and his word, 
but would do so with hatred and violence, even betraying him to his enemies. 
Real faith is not blind nor ignorant. It seeks understanding. That is 
why God gives us the help of the Holy Spirit to enlighten the eyes of 
our mind to understand his truth and wisdom (Ephesians 1:17-18). Jesus 
offers his life-giving word and Spirit to those who believe in him and 
who obey his word. Peter’s profession of faith and loyalty was based on 
a personal relationship with Jesus. His belief was not simply based on 
what he knew about Jesus. He believed in Jesus because he knew that when 
Jesus spoke God spoke – when Jesus acted God acted. Through the gift of 
faith Peter came to understand that Jesus was the true Messiah, the Holy 
One of God. He believed in the words which Jesus spoke, because he accepted 
Jesus as the Son of God and savior of the world. Faith is a personal response 
to God's revelation of himself to us. Faith is the key to understanding 
and experiencing God's action and work in our personal lives. Do you believe, 
as Peter did, that Jesus can change your life because he has the words 
of everlasting life? Ask the Lord to increase your faith that you may 
grow in your relationship with him and in the knowledge of his love for 
you. 

PRAYER:"Lord Jesus, you have the words of everlasting life. Help me to cast 
aside doubt and fear and to embrace your word with trust and joy. I surrender 
my life to you.  Be the Lord and master of my heart, my will, my thoughts 
and all my actions. May there be nothing which keeps me from you and your 
love."