The Words of Eternal Life

08-25-2024Weekly ReflectionFr. Bing Colasito

The Gospel reminds me of a story about an uncle, a physician who stopped coming to Church for fifteen years. Then, one day, while his younger brother, Fr. Basil Colasito, was vacationing with them, the older brother announced that he would shower and would like Fr. Basil to hear his confession. Everyone was surprised, and Fr. Basil, probably praying for this moment, candidly said: That’s what I am a priest for.

There was an uncomfortable silence during that breakfast. Fr. Basil and my aunt looked at each other in surprise and disbelief. I learned that fifteen years before, my uncle was the Provincial Health Officer and was assigned to implement the Government Population Control Program through Family Planning. Supposedly, the program disseminates education about what responsible parenthood is all about. That Sunday, my uncle heard the priest speak about the teaching of the Church on responsible parenthood. My uncle took it personally. He believed the Homily was intended for him and felt alluded to before the parishioners, many of whom were his patients and acquaintances. He was fuming mad going home and said: I don’t tell those priests how to run their Church, so they have no right to tell me how I run my medical practice.

According to my father that was the last time my uncle walked into a Catholic Church. The announcement of wanting to go to confession created a lot of positive or welcome reactions from his family. By his pronouncement, he is signaling his return with the symbolic cleansing of both the body (taking a shower) and the spirit (going to confession). We would never know what God spoke to him in his heart: Father, not my will but yours be done (Lk. 22: 42). Or the words of Peter in the Gospel, v. 68 Lord, to whom shall I go? You have the words of eternal life. Whatever God told him, the first doctor of the family took it to heart and responded in spirit and life.

V. 63 The words I have spoken to you are spirit and life. The words of Jesus have a psychosomatic effect, affecting both the body and the soul through His grace. Being unveiled and defenses disarmed, the physician slowly realized that rejection of Jesus disturbs the physical and spiritual health. Going back to Jesus means accepting His humanity and divinity.

1. Do we trust God to provide for all our needs? Let us look beyond the bread that we eat in the Mass. No one can come to me unless the FATHER draws him.
2. To believe is to partake of the Eucharist as often as possible. I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never hunger. He who believes in me will never thirst. Do we firmly believe that our help is in the name of the Lord? The reign of Jesus is growing and unfolding even without visible signs.
3. God works through all kinds of situations because nothing is impossible in God. The Church is the body of Jesus Christ and is both human and divine: We all need to be compassionate with its sinfulness and weaknesses.
4. Let go and let God. Ps. 86:11 Teach me your way, O Lord, that I may walk in your truth; unite my heart to fear your name. Lord, humble me to accept: My thoughts are not your thoughts. My ways are not your ways.

This experience of my uncles taught me that the Catholic Church is the body of Christ have both human and divine dimensions. To be a disciple is to embrace the teaching of Jesus in spirit and life. Otherwise, like some of the disciples of Jesus, we would murmur and abandon Him. Thank God we have Peter, who led the faithful disciples to stay, abide, and remain with Jesus because He has come to believe His Words as SPIRIT and LIFE, and the Words of Eternal Life.