Let us look briefly at the attitude of those who withdrew and
decided not to follow Jesus any more. Where does this disbelief
come from? What is the reason for this rejection?
Jesus’ words enkindled great scandal: he was saying that
God decided to manifest himself and accomplish salvation
in the weakness of human flesh. It is the mystery of the incarnation.
The incarnation of God is what provoked scandal
and presented an obstacle for those people—but often for us
too. Indeed, Jesus affirms that the true bread of salvation,
which transmits eternal life, is his very flesh; that to enter
into communion with God, before observing the laws or
satisfying religious precepts, it is necessary to live out a real
and concrete relationship with him—because salvation came
from him, in his incarnation. This means that one must not
pursue God in dreams and in images of grandeur and power,
but [God] must be recognized in the humanity of Jesus and,
as a consequence, in that of the brothers and sisters we meet
on the path of life. . . . God made himself flesh and blood;
he lowered himself to the point of becoming a [human] like
us. He humbled himself to the extent of burdening himself
with our sufferings and sin, and therefore he asks us to seek
him not outside of life and history, but in relationship with
Christ and with our brothers and sisters. Seeking him in life,
in history, in our daily life. And this, brothers and sisters, is
the road to the encounter with God: the relationship with
Christ and our brothers and sisters.

Pope Francis, Angelus, August 22, 2021

Jorge Mario Bergoglio, SJ, was archbishop of Buenos Aires before his
election as pope in 2013. Pope Francis has proclaimed a Gospel of
joy and peace, of care for the poor and for the earth.