Saturday of the Third Week of Easter
Acts 9:31-42  +  John 6:60-69
May 6, 2017

“‘To whom shall we go?  You have the words of eternal life.’”

In these words, Saint Peter, the first sinner entrusted with leading the Church on earth, speaks for all of us who are followers of Christ.  During the past week, Saint John in the sixth chapter of his Gospel account has been relating how Jesus shocked and scandalized many faithful Jews.  Jesus has presented them with His teaching about the Eucharist, the central belief and practice of our Catholic faith.  And what has been the response of the crowds around Jesus?  They say, “This sort of talk is hard to endure!  How can anyone take it seriously?”

We as Catholics need to take a good look at ourselves and ask how seriously we take our Catholic Faith.  Is our participation in the Eucharist the central act of prayer during the week for us as Catholics?  Do we take the time occasionally to pray before the Eucharist in an Adoration chapel?  When we go forth from Mass each Sunday and Holy Day, do we take seriously our commission to take what we’ve been given at Mass, and to share it with those whom we meet?  How do we nurture our faith in our homes and neighborhoods?  How do we reach out to those who have not been practicing the Faith?

As the summer draws closer and school ends, we start to think about the many activities which we have the opportunity to involve ourselves in.  What about participation in daily Mass and Eucharistic Adoration, so that we can pray for our real needs, and the needs of those who no longer pray?