Gospel (Jn 6,60-69) - At that time, many of Jesus' disciples, after listening, said: «This word is hard! Who can listen to it?". Jesus, knowing within himself that his disciples were murmuring about this, said to them: “Does this scandalize you? What if you saw the Son of Man ascend to where he was before? It is the Spirit that gives life, the flesh is of no use; the words that I have spoken to you are spirit and they are life. But there are some among you who do not believe." In fact, Jesus knew from the beginning who those who did not believe were and who it was who would betray him. And he said: "This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted to him by the Father." From that time many of his disciples turned back and no longer went with him. Jesus then said to the Twelve: "Do you want to leave too?". Simon Peter answered him: «Lord, to whom shall we go? You have words of eternal life and we have believed and known that you are the Holy One of God."

The commentary on the Gospel by Monsignor Vincenzo Paglia

The Gospel passage we have heard concludes the great "discourse on the bread" that Jesus is giving in the synagogue of Capernaum. The entire text that the evangelist reports tells us a fundamental truth: Jesus "is" the bread and not simply "has" the bread, as people thought after seeing the miracle of the multiplication of the loaves. This affirmation of Jesus as "the bread of life" is also felt to be excessive by the disciples who say to each other: "This speech is hard". They, in those words, understand that "eating the flesh and drinking the blood of Jesus" means - as it actually does - welcoming into themselves a love so great that it completely involves their entire life. “It's too much!”, for them. They can't accept such a great and engaging love. They prefer to be free from any constraints. It is a temptation that seems to be asserting itself more and more widely these days. There is an incredible growth in individualism with the consequent rejection of any constraints that could limit one's desires, one's horizon. You prefer to be alone with yourself. Well, if this is the perspective that is affirmed, how is it possible to accept a bond like the one that Jesus asks for, that is, to be part of the same flesh as him? Better then to abandon Jesus. Those disciples would perhaps have accepted to bind themselves to a God who was close to them, but not who entered deeply into their lives. In short, friends, but from afar; disciples, but up to a certain point. For Jesus, however, friendship is radical and decisive for one's entire existence. This is the Gospel that he came to communicate to men: the radical nature of a love that leads to giving one's life for others, without setting any limits, not even that of death. This type of love – the New Testament authors call it “agape” – is stronger even than death. Jesus cannot give up communicating this Gospel of love. And to the disciples, who were scandalized by these words, he says that they would be even more so if they saw him "go up to where he was before". Jesus knows well that only with the eyes of faith is it possible to recognize and welcome him. And he repeats to them: “This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted to him by my Father”. He thus reiterates that without the humility of letting oneself be helped it is impossible to understand the evangelical Word. Jesus, obviously very saddened by the abandonment of so many disciples, turns to the "Twelve" (it is the first time this term appears in the Gospel of John) and asks them: "Do you want to leave too?". It is among the most dramatic moments of Jesus' life. He could not deny his Gospel, even at the cost of remaining alone. Evangelical love is either exclusive, without any limit, or it is not. Peter, who perhaps saw the passionate but also firm eyes of Jesus, lets his heart be touched and, speaking, says to Jesus: “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have words of eternal life." He does not say "where" we will go, but "to whom" we will go. The Lord Jesus is truly our only savior.