Only about 31% of Catholics believe that at the mass, simple bread and wine is literally transformed into Jesus’ body and blood as opposed to being merely a symbol. Though it is staggering that two thirds of Catholics do not believe the most important belief in our faith, it is not so surprising when we read John 6:25-69.

Jesus tells his disciples that “unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you” and after grumbling and arguing amongst themselves, “many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed him.”

In this piece, Jesus turns to Simon with this hard teaching. In this moment, Jesus allows his disciples the freedom to leave over this truth of the Eucharist. He doesn’t alter it to make them feel more comfortable, but doubles down and allows them to leave him if they do not accept this. And so Simon, conflicted, must make a decision. In a triumphant moment that I’m sure is riddled with confusion, doubt, and mystery, Simon makes his choice: “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life”. In the face of his doubt, his answer is to have faith in Jesus.