August 25, 2024 — Twenty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time — Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life; you have the words of everlasting life — Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint John (Jn 6: 60-69)

Many of Jesus’ disciples who were listening said,

“This saying is hard; who can accept it?”

Since Jesus knew that his disciples were murmuring about this,
he said to them,

“Does this shock you?
What if you were to see the Son of Man ascending
to where he was before?
It is the spirit that gives life,
while the flesh is of no avail.
The words I have spoken to you are Spirit and life.
But there are some of you who do not believe.”

Jesus knew from the beginning the ones who would not believe
and the one who would betray him.
And he said,

“For this reason I have told you that no one can come to me
unless it is granted him by my Father.”

As a result of this,
many of his disciples returned to their former way of life
and no longer accompanied him.
Jesus then said to the Twelve,

“Do you also want to leave?”

Simon Peter answered him,

“Master, to whom shall we go?
You have the words of eternal life.
We have come to believe
and are convinced that you are the Holy One of God.”