In today's Gospel reading, we see the withdrawal of the disciples due to their disbelief when Jesus reiterated that faith is only possible for the person drawn to Jesus by the Father (5:38, 6:37, 8: 46 - 47). This led to Peter's confession which echoes Jesus' own words in v. 63b - The words I have spoken to you are spirit and they are life - followed by the revelation of the forth-coming betrayal by Judas, one of the Twelve.

As we meditate on this passage, we can sense the pain that Jesus experienced in revealing the truth. How often we experience this when we speak the truth yet we know "truth will set us free."

This is also seen in the first reading wherein Peter worked two miracles in the curing of a paralytic at Lydda and the raising of a dead woman at Jaffa. This was possible because of the faith of the people. Great faith reflects God's acts of love in the miracles. These two miracles act as a prelude to Peter's epoch-making conversion of Cornelius (Acts 10: 1 - 11: 18).

May the Easter joy and hope we long for and experience continue to increase and strengthen our Faith in the Resurrection power of Jesus in our lives. This in turn reflect our love for those who need Jesus in their lives especially the poor, rejected and persecuted in society.