Today Gospel is the completion of the Gospel we read yesterday.  John writes: “Many of Jesus’ disciples heard Jesus speak and they said to one another: “This is too hard for us to understand.” Jesus realized that His disciples were grumbling to one another and He questioned His followers.  Finally Jesus asked them: “Does this bother you?”  He then said to them: “What if you see the Son of Man go up to heaven where He came from?  The Spirit is the One who gives life. The words I speak to you are spirit and life.”  Jesus then says: “You cannot come to me unless the Father wants you to come.  That is why I have told you all these things.”

Let us for a moment  put ourselves in the disciples’ shoes.  How would we respond if Jesus were saying all of this to us?  Would we be overwhelmed, excited, frightened, or elated?  John tells us: “Many of Jesus’ disciples turned their backs on Him and went back to their homes.”  However, Simon Peter approached Jesus and said: “Lord, there is no one else whom we can go to.  You alone have the words of eternal life.” Peter then affirmed his belief that Jesus truly was God’s Holy Son!

Peter’s deep conviction that Jesus truly was the Lord a was pure gift to Jesus.  How deep is our conviction that Jesus is the Lord? Take a few moments and reflect on that question, then go to Jesus.

We all have doubts in Jesus at times.  Often these are the times we distance ourselves from Him.  Yet these are the times when we need to approach Him and talk with Him.  We may question Him or perhaps simply sit in His presence and allow Him to wrap us in love and light.  We are the ones who leave Him.  Jesus will never, ever leave us!