The Invitation

Gospel: John 6: 60-69

"Many of his disciples returned to their former way of life and no longer walked with him." 

What was the way on which they were walking with the Lord? It was the way of mercy, love, and service to others. It was the way of healing, liberating, and feeding others.  But in this discourse, many chose to return to a life of self-interest and a life of benefit for self.  They were happy to benefit from the mercies of the Lord - the healing and feeding he provided.  But the implications of what Jesus suggests in this discourse is a point too far for them.

For when Jesus invites us to partake of his flesh, to do this in remembrance of me, it is not merely an invitation to create a ritual action that we regularly perform.  To partake of Jesus' flesh - to do this in remembrance of me - is to take on the life, mission, and identity of Jesus entirely.  It is to live and die for others in the same way that Jesus lived and died for us.  That is what many disciples could not accept then, or now.  

We are continually seeking ways to keep our lives of self-interest, to water down the demands Jesus lays upon us in inviting us to this life of total self-giving to others.  We like mercy, but only for ourselves and not for others.  We like healing, liberation, and feeding - but not for those people over there.  We love Jesus' acts of self-giving, but we think he did that so we do not have to do so.  No, he did so in order that we might imitate his example in our lives.  "As I have done, so you also must do."