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".