“Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.”
John 6:68
I’m not preaching tomorrow but I sure wish I was. My twin brother Rick, and a fellow priest, is preaching on this text and reminded me of its power and relevance. I look forward to hearing it!
The Gospel lesson for this Sunday is the fifth and final passage from the Bread of Life discourse in the Gospel of John: Jn. 6:60-69.
The following verses are stunning to me:
“Because of this many of his disciples turned back and no longer went about with him. So Jesus asked the twelve, “Do you also wish to go away?” Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom can we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and know that you are the Holy One of God.” John 6: 66-68
Can you imagine Jesus asking his closet friends if they too wanted to leave him? It’s one of the most illuminating questions Jesus asks. I am sure he has asked it of me. Yet Simon Peter got it right. “Lord, to whom can we go…?”
Here is another example of answering Jesus’ penetrating question that resonates with my soul, my life:
I am one of many people who have found Jesus of Nazareth to be the most radiant light to ever grace the human scene. I’m an avid reader, and through the gift of literature, I have peered inside the minds of some of history’s greatest thinkers. All of them have laudable traits (and some not so laudable ones too). But the longer I live and learn, the more I’m convinced that Jesus has no real competition, ancient or modern. In my estimation, no other thinker, philosopher, leader, philosophy, or ideology has the coherence, sophistication, and deep inner resonance of Jesus and his Way. Much less the staggering beauty. - John Mark Comer
This is the Journey and The Way: coming to deeper and deeper trust and belief, and an interactive, participative knowing of Jesus, the Holy One of God.
Who are you following? Everybody is following somebody—or at least something. Who is your teacher? Who has the words of Eternal Life?
The greatest invitation we will ever receive in this life is from Jesus when he said: “Come follow Me.”
Be of good hope and joy. There is One who knows and loves you. You are not alone. He is with you. Respond and follow, step by step, day by day.
With you on The Journey and The Way,
Rob+