To Whom Else Could We Go

Then Jesus said to the Twelve, ‘What about you, do you want to go away too?’ Simon Peter answered, ‘Lord, who shall we go to? You have the message of eternal life, and we believe; we know that you are the Holy One of God.’
Jn.6:67-69

Many disciples leave Jesus after his insistence that his body and blood are to be consumed to gain eternal life.   He then asks his closest friends if they want to leave too. Peter gives the only answer possible for a believer... to whom else would we go?

A point eventually comes when I find a teaching too hard or I'm disappointed in prayer or in the Church. At such times I ask Peter's question, to whom else would I go?  This refocuses me on the person of Jesus, my best friend, my lover, my healer, my saviour. 

It's a good question to ask. It reinvigorates my faith and trust in him.

Jesus, you alone have the words of everlasting life.
Saint Catherine of Siena, please pray for me.

Crazy Love

And so, while the Jews demand miracles and the Greeks look for wisdom, here are we preaching a crucified Christ; to the Jews an obstacle that they cannot get over, to the pagans madness, but to those who have been called, whether they are Jews or Greeks, a Christ who is the power and the wisdom of God.
1Cor.1:22-24

Paul is very aware about the challenge of the Cross, how it appears as an obstacle and madness. He is also very clear that coupled with belief, it is the supreme wisdom of God.

There is a winsome madness about the Christian message. The Cross is the ultimate symbol for love. God so loved the world that he handed his torturers the nails. God so loved the world that he begged forgiveness for his executioners. God is so lovesick for me that he died for me. 

What is my response to such mad love? To love him and those he loves.

Saint Peter Chanel, please pray for me.

For the Life of the World

I am the living bread which has come down from heaven. Anyone who eats this bread will live forever; and the bread that I shall give is my flesh, for the life of the world.
Jn.6:51

Jesus confronts the mob surging after him for more miracles with a clear explanation of who he is and why he has come. He is bread to be consumed for the life of the world. 

As a non-Catholic, this was the great stumbling block for me. I associated with the people shaking their heads saying this is too hard to believe. However, I couldn't get around it. Jesus is emphatic on this point, repeating over six times, "eat my flesh, drink my blood". 

In the end I had to concede if Jesus said it then I believe it. The eucharist is now the main reason I could never leave the Catholic Church. It has become my food for life.

Thank you Jesus for your wonderful gift of the eucharist. You give me eternal life.

Go

Go out to the whole world; proclaim the Good News to all creation. He who believes and is baptised will be saved.
Mk.16:15,16

Jesus gives the apostles their final commission, go proclaim, heal, and cast out.  He then ascends to heaven and the apostles do as commanded. They go.

Two thousand years later the command remains. We tend to be a Church that stays rather than goes. Somewhere along the line we have handed over the commission to the missionaries, the professionals. Jesus says anyone who believes has been given power and authority to use, to go with. To not go is a sign of unbelief. 

Lord, show me who to go to and how to go.
Saint Mark the Apostle, please pray for me.

One Hungry Person at a Time

There is a small boy here with five barley loaves and two fish; but what is that between so many?
Jn.6:9

Jesus gives the twelve an opportunity to meet the need of five thousand hungry people. They looked at the problem and saw only obstacles. Jesus looked for the solution and found it in the offering of the least significant person, a small boy with five loaves and two fish.

I'm impressed that Jesus used the smallest of offerings from the weakest person to perform his miracle of feeding the five thousand. I look at world poverty, at my country's growing godlessness, at the burgeoning sadness and sickness of spirit in people and I feel overwhelmed. 

The small boy's offering restores my hope. I can make a difference, as Mother Teresa said, one hungry person at a time.

Jesus, help me see the individuals in the mass and respond with charity, one person at a time.
Saint Mother Teresa of Calcutta, please pray for me.

Good News is for Sharing

By his own right hand God has now raised him up to be leader and saviour, to give repentance and forgiveness of sins.
Acts.5:31

The apostles are brought before the Sanhedrin, accused of preaching about Jesus after being instructed not to. Their defence is to preach about Jesus.  

There's something about good news that compels a believer to tell others. Good news travels fast. Peter summarises the good news of what the role is of the risen Jesus, to lead and save by giving repentance and forgiveness. 

Holy Spirit, compel me to tell the good news about Jesus to those I meet today.

Son of Encouragement

There was a Levite of Cypriot origin called Joseph whom the apostles surnamed Barnabas (which means ‘son of encouragement’). He owned a piece of land and he sold it and brought the money, and presented it to the apostles.
Acts.4:36,37

The early Church lives as a community, sharing all they have. Barnabas is recorded as a shining example of support and encouragement to the apostles.

Encouragement (n): The act of giving someone support, confidence, or hope. This is a great virtue to be practiced by believers. It is love in action.

I love the company of encouragers. We are currently being blessed by an encourager who is helping us branch out into coffee at our bakery. He keeps saying how great it will be for our business and he has helped in setting up the coffee machine and training staff. He truly is a son of encouragement.

Lord, you always saw and drew out the best in people. Help me do likewise today and be a "Son of Encouragement". 

Rejoice and be Glad

Alleluia, alleluia!
This is the day the Lord has made;
let us rejoice and be glad.
Alleluia!

Today's Gospel Acclamation encapsulates the joy of Easter. The only sensible response to the Good News that Christ is risen is joy and gladness.

Today is Easter Saturday, day seven of the Easter Octave. Easter is so big that the Church has made Easter Sunday last eight days. Eight days of long faces stuck in Lent? No! Eight days of riotous joy.

That's the Church I love. 

Alleluia, Christ is risen!
He's risen indeed, alleluia, alleluia!

Renewed Purpose

Throw the net out to starboard and you’ll find something.
Jn.21:6

The risen Jesus appears to the apostles, advising them to cast their net where they hadn't been fishing. A massive catch ensues and Jesus is finally recognised.

The apostles were starting to drift back to their old ways, for fishermen that means back to fishing. Jesus calls them back to the mission he had originally set for them. The bountiful catch got their attention, the shared breakfast regained their purpose.

Easter is a time of new life, of renewed purpose. 

What is it Lord that you want me to do? Am I to cast my net in a new direction?
Saint Peter, please pray for me.

Forgiven

In his name, repentance for the forgiveness of sins would be preached to all the nations.
Lk.24:47

The risen Jesus appears to the disciples and assures, teaches and commissions them.

There is the mission, preach repentance for the forgiveness of sins in Jesus' name. To the degree I'm doing that is the measure of my Christian life. I'm not just to receive forgiveness, I'm to dispense it in Jesus' name.

Lord, your forgiveness has set me free. Help me unlock the chains of guilt in others in your mighty name.
Saint Peter, please pray for me.

Listen

Did not our hearts burn within us as he talked to us...
Lk.24:32

The two disciples are despairing and unknowingly share their broken hearts with the risen Jesus. When they stop talking and start listening, burning heart surgery takes place.

Prayer is a two way conversation. I forget this, pouring out my burdens and requests, not giving my Lord a chance to speak back, a chance to work on my heart.

Speak Lord, your servant is listening...

He knows my Name

Jesus said, ‘Mary!’ She knew him then.
Jn.20:16

Mary Magdalene had been standing outside the empty tomb of Jesus weeping in despair. Thinking him a gardener, Jesus calls Mary's name, causing her to recognise him. Suddenly her mourning is transformed into great heights of joy. 

Jesus knows my name. One day I will hear him call me. At that moment all tears, anguish, guilt, sickness death and despair will permanently disappear, leaving what? Everlasting, indescribable joy. 

Maranatha! Come Lord Jesus come.

Embrace the Towel

If I, then, the Lord and Master, have washed your feet, you should wash each other’s feet. I have given you an example so that you may copy what I have done to you.
Jn.13:15

The night before Jesus' passion and death he gave the Church two gifts, the eucharist and servanthood. 

Lately I have felt like everyone wants a piece of me. I've recently retired and I've never been so busy. Jesus is saying to me, "Yeah, good aye!" 

Servanthood is not a drudge for a Christian. It's an opportunity to love someone my Lord loves. Isn't that what true servanthood is?  

Lord, help me embrace the towel as you did and serve in love.
Saint Therese of Calcutta, please pray for me.

Not I, Surely?

Judas, who was to betray him; asked in his turn, ‘Not I, Rabbi, surely?’ ‘They are your own words’ answered Jesus.
Mt.16:25

Judas plays out his duplicity to the end. "Not I, surely?" He is condemned by his own words.

These are also my condemning words. "Not I, surely?" Yet, each time I sin I betray. Thank God for his mercy. I need it.

Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.
Saint Dismas, please pray for me.

Jesus Remember Me

It is better for one man to die for the people, than for the whole nation to be destroyed.
Jn.11:50

The high priest Caiaphas unwittingly prophesied the reason Jesus was to die. He died so we can live.

Where am I in the crowd around him on Golgotha? Good question. I see myself on his right hand cross, nailed there deservedly for my sins but crying out, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom".

Saint Dismas, please pray for me.