To whom shall we go?

21th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Today we are going to conclude the Bread of Life discourse. During these weeks, we have seen the people grumbling about Jesus’ teachings. They did not accept what he was saying. Today, we see how even those close to him, many among his disciples, find his teachings difficult and decide to stop following him. 

Today’s Gospel is about decisions. Our lives are full of decisions. We start making decisions, first thing in the morning, when we decide whether to wake up when the alarm goes off, or else to linger in bed. Not all decisions are difficult to take. All decisions however, carry consequences. Even the disciples decided. They could not believe how Jesus had come from heaven, or that he could save them, and that he would one day return to the Father. When they decided not to continue following Jesus, they proved that the life of discipleship was too difficult for them. On the contrary, Peter answers on behalf of the apostles. His answer is founded on faith. He wants to remain with Jesus. His reply and acceptance of Jesus’ teachings was a gift from God. Faith is a gift. Like all gifts, we are free to accept it or not. Like each gift, it is useless if we do not use it. Our faith is strengthened each time we accept Jesus into our lives and when we accept his teachings and live them. 

Today, Jesus is putting this question to us, “Do you also want to leave?”  Everyone must answer in a personal way. Who is Jesus for me? Do I accept his teachings? Will I follow him? The apostles accepted and managed to follow Jesus, not because of their own capabilities, but because they allowed the grace to God to lead them. God gives us this grace, every day, together with an invitation to move closer to him. It is our decision to accept or not. 

When we accept and trust ourselves to God, the Holy Spirit leads us and helps us to live as members of the Body of Christ, the Church. He helps us to live as true Christians and to make decisions which are not always easy. The Holy Spirit strengthens us to move away from worldly calls which contrast sharply with our beliefs. The Holy Spirit helps us to be a light for others, especially to those closest to us, and those for whom we are responsible. Today’s first reading highlights the faithfulness of God. God keeps his promises, he is always with us. The people of Israel went against God several times, they betrayed him for false gods, however, God never abandoned them. God is with us, even when we feel alone and abandoned by everyone, God is steadfast. Faith and the Holy Spirit help us to believe this.

A reading from the Gospel of 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.”

The Gospel of the Lord
Praise to you Lord Jesus Christ

  1. Read the Gospel story so that you are familiar with it.
  2. Reflect on what the Gospel is saying to you. Which points would you highlight and why?
  3. Today we heard how the disciples found Jesus’ teachings difficult, so they left. Is there some teaching of Jesus, which mixes you up? What do you do in such a situation? Remember that the Church offers several opportunities for formation; having a spiritual director, is also of great help.
  4. How would you describe a person of faith? How do you describe yourself in this regard? Pray every day, and join the apostles, turn to the Lord and say, “Increase my faith” (Luke 17, 5) 
  5. Together with your family find the right time to read this gospel. The environment helps, so before you start, prepare:
    i. The Bible reading from St John (6, 60-69)
    ii. A candle
    iii. Cover the table with a green clot
    iv. A computer/laptop with the reading and clips
  6. Go through the steps with your children (2 age groups are being suggested)
  7. Feel free to adapt to your situation
  8. Be creative 😊
  9. Go to the Prayer Corner section to continue praying as a family

We believe that one day, we will go to heaven, near Jesus. It is not easy to understand it and to believe it. Today we will hear how some among Jesus’ friends did not believe him and did not continue to follow him. 

  • St Peter teaches us that the best thing we can do, is that we believe Jesus, and we follow him 
  • Printout of the activity
  • Scissors
Activity Download

Jesus love us so much, that he gave us the great gift of the Eucharist. Through the Eucharist, Jesus comes to us in a very special way. It could be that you are not understanding all of this. It is difficult to understand how Jesus comes to us in the Eucharist. You are not understanding, not because you are still too young but because no one can really understand how it happens. Everyone, young and old, we all believe what Jesus tells us. Jesus never lies, Jesus always keeps his promises. This means that even with regards to the Eucharist, we are to believe him. 

In today’s Gospel, only one said that he believed Jesus. Do you remember who declared this? (Peter) 

His other friends, other disciples of Jesus, found it difficult to believe Jesus. They could not believe how they could be nourished by the body of Christ or that one day they would go to heaven and live for ever. Peter, said that he and the apostles wanted to continue being friends with Jesus, they wanted to continue learning from him, they wanted to believe what he taught them, they wanted to continue following Jesus.  

Jesus knew that it was not easy to understand his teachings. He knows that we also find it difficult to believe. He told us that when we pray, we receive the ability to believe. The more we pray, the more we become his friends, and the more we can do what he wishes. One day, we too, will go to heaven, and be with him for ever and ever. 

It is true that what Jesus is telling us today is difficult to understand. However, there is one thing which we know for sure: to be friends of Jesus, we need to do as he wishes. When we do this, we will be following him, and one day we will also go to heaven. What do you think Jesus wishes you to do? (love others, help others, forgive others, pray, share what you have, learn, listen/read from the Bible, say the truth, obey…) Today you have some footprints, with actions written on them, follow from one footprint to another and see where they will lead you. (note to parents: cut out the footprints and scatter them around the room, or more than one room. If possible, put one on top of a chair, so that the children have to go on the chair, another underneath a chair, and the children, have to go under the chair. Explain, that it is not always easy to follow Jesus. At the end, they will find the picture of Jesus.) 

Sign of the cross.

Dear Jesus, you want us to be your friends. We want to be like the apostles and do as you wish, we also want to believe what you teach us. We do not want to be like those disciples who left you. Jesus, we want to be your friends so much, that we are going to sing to you, how we have decided to follow you, and how we will not turn back from this decision! 

I have decided.

Note to parents:
this is a short clip about the love of parents, which the children may watch. The love shown by the mother is unconditional. This is the way that God loves us, without any condition and he will always love us, not matter what. We can believe this, if we have faith, like the apostles.  

Today’s Gospel narrates Peter’s act of faith in Jesus; Peter confesses that he believes what Jesus is saying, even though he may not understand everything. Peter tells Jesus that he wants to continue following him.

  • As the apostles did, we need to have faith in Jesus, we need to believe what he teaches
  • Construction paper
  • Scissors
  • Markers
  • Pencils

Today Jesus asks his friends, the apostles, a very direct question, he says: “Do you also want to leave?” 

In a few years or less, you will celebrate the Sacrament of Confirmation. Although you will not be asked this same question, it will be put to you in a different way, some moments before being confirmed. So, it is right to ask:

Are you a Christian?

Is it easy to be a Christian?

Would you like to continue living as a Christian?

Have any of your friends ever told you: “I do not want to continue being your friend”?

How did it feel?

How do you think Jesus felt, when the disciples, did not want to continue following him?

(allow the children to answer freely)

You were baptised when you were still babies, so you did not have any choice. Your parents decided for you. Your parents, in fact, decided a number of things on your behalf, they decided about immunisation, medicines, the food you ate, the school you attend. They made these decisions with your interest at heart. Now that you are growing up, you are starting to make decisions on your own. You were baptised without your consent; however, you will be the ones to decide if you would like to be confirmed. Even if you will not be celebrating your confirmation just yet, it is good to answer this question Jesus is asking. This does not mean that once you are confirmed, you stop answering Jesus’ call. Our ‘yes’ to Jesus, needs to be made every day, for the rest of our lives. In the same way, that Jesus felt hurt that the disciples did not want to continue following him, he is also saddened when we decide that we do not want to pay heed to what he is saying.

In today’s Gospel, Jesus refers to the Spirit. It is the Holy Spirit who gives us the strength not to give up when we find Jesus’ teachings difficult and instead to continue following him and not leave like some among the disciples did. Every time, we chose to do what is right, we have made our choice to follow Jesus. There will be times, when we will not be sure about what we are meant to do. During these times, we need to pray more. 

Everyone is going to trace his or her footprint on a piece of construction paper. It would be best if you helped each other. Someone puts his/her foot on the paper, and someone else traces the outline. Cut out the footprints and everyone writes his/her name on their footprint. Pass these footprints around, and each member of the family writes down ways, in which that person (the owner of the footprint) can follow Jesus. For example, a parent may write on the daughter’s footprint, “Cinzia can help her brother John with his homework.” On the other hand, the daughter may write something like, “mother shows more patience when stuck in a traffic jam,” on her mother’s footprint! (note to parents: the younger ones may find some difficulty in writing, they may draw instead, and then explain what they drew) When everyone is ready, each reads what was written on his/her footprint. The footprints are put in a place which may be seen, so that everyone remembers how they can follow Jesus.

Whilst doing this activity, listen to Follow Jesus.

Sign of the cross

Dear Jesus, today we would like to pray for each and every one of us, so that we do not give up and continue to follow you. Thank you, Jesus.

As part of your prayer, say the Act of Faith, to show that you believe that Jesus, was truly sent from God:

O my God, I firmly believe that you are one God in three divine Persons, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. I believe that your divine Son became man and died for our sins, and that he will come to judge the living and the dead. I believe these and all the truths which the holy Catholic Church teaches, because you have revealed them, who can neither deceive nor be deceived. Amen.

1. According to today's Gospel, Jesus was speaking to the disciples about ...

Correct! Wrong!

2. What did the disciples who were listening to Jesus, say?

Correct! Wrong!

3. Since then, there had been many disciples who...

Correct! Wrong!

4. When Jesus asked the apostles if they also wanted to leave, Peter answered and said ...

Correct! Wrong!

How to use this space

God speaks to us in many ways, including through the Sunday Scripture readings. Here you will find useful background and activities to better understand the upcoming Sunday's Scripture readings, helping you to connect the Scripture to daily life in a meaningful way.