Foreign Today’s Gospel is taken from the memorial of St. Catherine of Siena. From John, 6th chapter, 60th, 69th verse. Many of the disciples of Jesus 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 we 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. 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 walked with him. Jesus then said to the 12, 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 we are convinced that you are the Holy One of God. In this passage, when Jesus confronts those who do not believe, he’s saying something most important.

Faith is granted to those who are open to it by the Father. It is not something we do or we can make happen. We can only long for it and know that it’s a process that continues as it did in the hearts of the disciples, as it grew stronger and stronger. Sa Sat Sam Sat Satan. Closing prayer. Father, bless us in our journey of faith as we continue to grow and understand more fully the gifts that you have shared with us and the power that you’ve given us to be a part of this work of saving the world, bringing them to life and truth.

And we ask this in Jesus name. Amen.