The reaction of Jesus’ hearers gives us a mirror in which to examine our own reaction to his presence and teaching. Faith is ultimately a choice to accept the full implications of Jesus’ presence; a choice that is ours in complete freedom, and yet a choice made under the impulse of God’s power.

The hearers who murmured and turned away encountered Jesus’ flesh as an obstacle — they saw him only in human terms (v 42). They were very aware that their union in the flesh with Abraham, as his descendants, gave them the right to the same relationship with God that he had (see Jn 8:31-41). They could not look beyond Jesus’ human reality as sign of his relationship with God as Son, nor see the possibility of sharing that relationship themselves by union in the flesh, signified and brought about by eating and drinking.

Throughout chapter 6, Jesus emphasized the importance of a total union ("in the flesh") with himself as the only avenue to a full, life-giving relationship with God the Father. This union could not be achieved by physical generation, but by a free choice of the will — full acceptance and adherence in faith (v 63).

The disciples who turn away see Jesus’ flesh as a roadblock. The Twelve represent those open to faith, who have the power to look beyond the flesh and see the Spirit that gives life to the flesh.

The glorification of Jesus in his death and resurrection is pre-echoed here. His prediction of the completion in his return to the Father is accompanied by the scattering of his disciples in unbelief, and at the same time stronger adherence by the true disciples.

Read all of chapter 24. It describes the covenant made between God and the people of Israel upon their settlement in the promised land. In contrast with the bloody covenant rites with Abraham (Gn 15) and at Sinai (Ex 24), which were based on the customs of nomads, this covenant at Shechem reflects the customs of a settled people beginning the process of civilization. Thus life’s blood as a sign of the binding agreement gives way to the word carved in stone as a perpetual reminder of the terms. This liturgical reading, as part of the preamble to the event, emphasizes freedom of choice. The covenant between God and his people is not a contract that binds slavishly, but an agreement between free agents to establish a relationship of mutual commitment.

This psalm praises God for his fidelity to the covenant. Response: "Taste and see the goodness of the Lord."

It wasn’t easy for Christ to love us. Nor is it easy for us to follow his command to love one another as he loved us. Paul continues to challenge us to take Christ’s love as the model for our own, and further to see in our own selfless love the actual love of Christ in operation. The self-gift-love of a Christian marriage is both the image of Christ’s love for his Church as well as the place where this divine love is concretely shared.

It is unfortunate that many people fail to see beyond v 22! A careful reading can perceive the expression of a beautiful equality of husband and wife in the diversity of their roles. Genuine human love is a matter of mutual submission, and we can rejoice that this love is able to signify the depth and strength of Christ’s relationship with us, his Church. In reading the concluding chapters of Ephesians, it is important to understand that Paul was not out to change the social structures of his day, even if they were often at odds with the demands of human dignity. Rather, he was concerned to explore how Christians can make the kingdom of God present in their lives and their communities no matter what their situation. This does not, however, absolve us of the responsibility as Christians to work toward an ever more just society for all people in our day.

1. How is faith in Jesus a necessary requirement for sharing the eucharist? What are some of the implications of this, for example, regarding the way we live our faith in union with the Church?

2. Love is fundamentally a choice. Reflect upon the cost of making Christ’s love your own.