"Amen, amen, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the son of Man and drink his blood, you do not have life within you." In no vague language Jesus says that his flesh and blood are true food and true drink. They nourish our lives. He is offering his disciples a living relationship, inviting them into the life of the Father and the Son. Sadly, many leave him and go back to their former way of life and no longer accompany him.

Jesus is asking us to choose life. Peter says 'Yes' on behalf of himself, his brothers and all of us: "Master, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life."

We have a glimpse of how Peter journeys on the way of life in the reading from Acts. He passes through every region, bringing the words of eternal life to the Christian communities there. He makes himself available to the brothers and sisters who request his help.

Pope Benedict XVI said in a homily: The fire of the Spirit animates this ordinary pastoral ministry, to inflame the hearts of the faithful who regularly take part in community worship and gather on the Lord's Day to be nourished by the Word of God and by the bread of eternal life.