One of the most primeval human fears is the fear of abandonment. It's easy to understand why. Childhood abandonment could result in malnutrition, injury, abuse or even death. Even as an adult, abandonment can be spiritually and emotionally devastating. We are wired for relationships. Abandonment is the betrayal of a relationship. Remembering what the letter to the Hebrews says, "For we do not have a High Priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin." (Heb. 4:15), we know that Christ has experienced this most difficult disappointment. In today's Gospel passage, most of those who were following Jesus abandoned Him when they find out the full scope of discipleship: eating His body and drinking His blood. Jesus even says to the apostles, "Do you also want to leave?" Peter, thankfully gives Him the answer that should be our answer too, "Master, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe that you are the Holy One of God."