This weekend we reach the dramatic conclusion of Jesus’ Bread of Life Discourse. I think it is dramatic because we are told that many of Jesus’ disciples “returned to their former way of life and no longer accompanied him.” What Jesus told them was so difficult that they could no longer follow him. Their spiritual distance from Jesus was evident through their physical distance, as they were no longer near Him.
 And then Jesus proceeded to call them back and watered down a little what He said in order to make it easier to be received. He gave them a new teaching so that they would not leave Him. No. He didn’t change anything that He told them once they started to leave Him. He boldly taught Truth, but it was up to them to either accept His teaching or reject it.
 The same goes for the Church. The Church has boldly taught the truth of Jesus Christ down through the ages, and continues to do so today. We have to be bold as disciples of Christ as well. We should never feel ashamed of proclaiming the truth in thought, word, or in deed. We must do it with charity, of course, but we should never change, alter, or water down Truth because of how it might be received, or if feelings will get hurt. What is at stake here? Our eternity. How does hurt feelings or brief discomfort compare to eternity when our souls are on the line?
 I also like the conversation between Jesus and Peter. After seeing His friends leave Him, Jesus asks Peter, who represents His 12 closes friends, “Are you going to leave too?” And Peter responds, “To whom are we to go? You have the words of everlasting life.” This is important for all of us to remember. When things are really bad and we feel like throwing in the towel and giving up, we have to remember that everything falls short of what Jesus Christ and His Bride the Catholic Church provide. Only the Church safeguards and transmits truth and life. Only the Church can give true satisfaction and fulfillment in this life, everything else leaves us empty and feeling used. At the summit of what Jesus and the Church give to us is the Eucharist, which is Jesus Himself. The context of the people leaving and the 12 staying is the Eucharist. It is the Eucharist that keeps us united with Christ and connected with one another.
 So let us be thankful that we have such a great gift to be able to receive the Eucharist. And let us also pray for those who cannot at the moment, that they may soon be able to, whether they are of a different faith, or are prevented due to mortal sin. May the Eucharist keep us all one, as Jesus and the Father are one.