Daily Gospel Reflection
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April 20, 2024
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 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 walked with 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.”
This is a difficult gospel passage for me because it reminds me of the controversial divides within my work. As a pediatrician, I have been trained in and challenged by the rigors of science. Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, medical providers have had to regularly engage in difficult conversations in an attempt to promote what we believe will lead to greater individual and public health.
This has often conflicted with the beliefs of our patients and families. Are we, medical experts, to dismiss these people with contrary opinions as scientific heretics? These sorts of disagreements have fractured relationships—professional and personal—to the point of rejecting the other person entirely.
The same thing happened in Jesus’ time when he declared he was the Son of God and asked, “Do you also want to leave?” As a regularly practicing Christian, I don’t believe God wishes for us to make such a complete dismissal of each other. Love demands more.
On the one hand, adhering to standards is important. The people of Jesus’ time were no different from our own. Jesus was giving them a “hard saying,” and they had to decide whether they would receive it or not. Whether in ordinary things or the spiritual life, there are believers and non-believers, and Jesus and his disciples were the original evangelists.
Today, our acts of compassion and empathy evangelize our message of love wherever we live and work. In my actions, I try to “evangelize” the gospel of good health and well-being, both spiritually and physically, but to always do so with compassion and love. How can we all be prophets promoting spiritual well-being and faith, whatever field of study or role in society we may find ourselves in?
Prayer
Ancient and Holy One, you never fail to teach us through the mystery of your grace acting in our midst. You beckon all who hear your voice to go out into all the world and proclaim the good news in everything we say and do. Give your people strength and perseverance through communion with our source of life, Christ your Son. May his eternal life dwell within us and bring us at last into your peaceful presence. We ask this in your holy name. Amen.