If we read carefully to the Gospel passages during the last few weeks, we could easily realize how close euphoria and admiration are to disappointment and rejection. The crowds of people were looking for Jesus because He satisfied their hunger with bread and fish, but they disappeared when they heard that Jesus' flesh is true food and Jesus' blood is true drink. At this point many of the disciples of Jesus left Him saying, that His teaching was hard, too hard to accept.

Perhaps the words of Jesus about the Holy Eucharist aren't shocking to us, because we were raised in the Catholic tradition. Since we listen to these words at every Holy Mass we have become used to them. Maybe we don't even try to go into the deepest meaning of these words. However, there are many other words of Jesus that are truly challenging for us. It is enough to recollect Jesus' teaching about forgiveness, love of enemies or a need to renounce our family so that nothing may hinder us from loving God wholeheartedly.

The words of Jesus are not words of cheap promises. They are all heavy; for they carry in them the keys to everlasting life.