A Huge Question

The disciples said to Jesus,
“Now you are talking plainly, and not in any figure of speech.
Now we realize that you know everything
and that you do not need to have anyone question you.
Because of this we believe that you came from God.”
Jesus answered them, “Do you believe now?
Behold, the hour is coming and has arrived
when each of you will be scattered to his own home
and you will leave me alone.
But I am not alone, because the Father is with me.
I have told you this so that you might have peace in me.
In the world you will have trouble,
but take courage, I have conquered the world.”
John 16:29-33 (NAB)

Prayer Reflection

The disciples said to Jesus,“Now you are talking plainly, and not in any figure of speech. Now we realize that you know everything and that you do not need to have anyone question you.
Because of this we believe that you came from God.”Jesus answered them, “Do you believe now? Imagine how much we ask this very thing each day of Jesus. We question whether or not he is from God, we question the truth of his words, we even question his miracles. Yet in all this time he has truly conquered the world with his love for us. And on the flip side of this we also had the same growth in evil as well. All because Jesus came to vanquish sin. To end the many questions that arise from the doubts that sin causes. Most of time when we go to Mass we hear his word, but how often we truly leave him alone when we are there. Are we focused upon him or are we focused on other matters. Or have we let routine close our hearts. Like when we are on a job we have done for the umpteenth time and say to ourselves how we could do it with our eyes closed. The routine in work has lost its zest. But as we work we fail to try to keep it alive and interesting. Same with faith, in a sense we go to Mass, our thought should be on the anticipation of the banquet feast and dinning along with Jesus. The anticipation of being in his presence when the word is read and the meal prepared. A splendid moment where we keep him alive in our day and he is no longer alone, left outside of our hearts.

Forever and Always

The Ascension of the Lord

The eleven disciples went to Galilee,
to the mountain to which Jesus had ordered them.
When they saw him, they worshiped, but they doubted.
Then Jesus approached and said to them,
“All power in heaven and on earth has been given to me.
Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations,
baptizing them in the name of the Father,
and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit,
teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.
And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age.”
Matthew 28:16-20 (NAB)

Prayer Reflection

Dear Father even after these many years we can say that Jesus is still with us as are you. We receive him in the Eucharist where the truth speaks loudly of his presence. Even remarkable is the fact that we have done as he asks and baptized in the name of the Father, of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Praise God we listened and did what was commanded of us. At least in this regard we have done good. But the part of knowing that he truly is with us for always, always touches the deepest part our lives. We have grown since the time of the disciples in more ways than one. Our faith had become a central means to the belief in what Jesus suffered for us. It is the belief that he is present with us at our Masses, in our Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, in the Tabernacles but most especially in those we meet each day. He will be with us until the end of time, just like when we declare that vow to those we love in our letters, Forever and Always he will always be. That is the beauty of the Divine.

Flesh and Blood

If any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever; and the bread that I will give, is my flesh, for the life of the world. The Jews therefore strove among themselves, saying: How can this man give us his flesh to eat? Then Jesus said to them: Amen, amen I say unto you: Except you eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, you shall not have life in you. He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath everlasting life: and I will raise him up in the last day. For my flesh is meat indeed: and my blood is drink indeed. He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, abideth in me, and I in him. As the living Father hath sent me, and I live by the Father; so he that eateth me, the same also shall live by me. This is the bread that came down from heaven. Not as your fathers did eat manna, and are dead. He that eateth this bread, shall live for ever.
John 6:52-59 (Douay-Rheims Bible)

Reflection:

Flesh and blood doesn't sound to appetizing, but many of us do eat flesh and blood in the food we buy from the store. Unless of course you are a true Vegan (vegetarian-sans any animal meat products whatsoever). Any way these products we buy have come from flesh and blood creatures and we have no problem eating them. I think it's because we know the source of where they came from it's easier to digest. Unlike the bread we eat at communion time. That is a wafer we see, but the divine presence is there when it is consecrated. We then eat of the true flesh and blood of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. It is knowing in our heart the sacrifice Jesus made for us that we believe in His presence. I've had the pleasure to receive in communion this beautiful presence when the host beat upon my tongue as a heart beats in our bodies. It turned to flesh and when that happened I knew that our Lord had graced me with the truth of eating of his flesh. I've had this grace happen several times and truth to tell, I would love to have received him this way all the time, but it was enough for me to know the difference and to witness to this truth.

Bread of Life

They said therefore to him: What sign therefore dost thou shew, that we may see, and may believe thee? What dost thou work? Our fathers did eat manna in the desert, as it is written: He gave them bread from heaven to eat.

Then Jesus said to them: Amen, amen I say to you; Moses gave you not bread from heaven, but my Father giveth you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is that which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life to the world. They said therefore unto him: Lord, give us always this bread. And Jesus said to them: I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall not hunger: and he that believeth in me shall never thirst.
John 6:30-35 (Douay-Rheims Bible)

Prayer Reflection

Dear Father you have given us the greatest sign ever, you gave us your Son as the bread of life. There is no other sign needed. Jesus gave of himself totally. If we don't believe in him or the fact that he is the bread of life then we have nothing. We will hunger forever for the truth and our thirst will never be quenched. He showed us and gave us so much to believe in his presence in the Eucharist, the bread par excellence. How can we ask for a sign when he is constantly present, just as those who were with him were. They too were looking for signs when he was present with them. Yet we have many who believe, but only a few who come to claim that Jesus is the true Son of God, the bread of life. I had a personal encounter with the bread of life, that didn't give me my belief, but strengthened that belief even more. It wasn't a sign for me, he fed me and gave me what I have thristed for, his love.

Have You Eaten?

After these things Jesus went over the sea of Galilee, which is that of Tiberias. And a great multitude followed him, because they saw the miracles which he did on them that were diseased. Jesus therefore went up into a mountain, and there he sat with his disciples. Now the pasch, the festival day of the Jews, was near at hand. When Jesus therefore had lifted up his eyes, and seen that a very great multitude cometh to him, he said to Philip: Whence shall we buy bread, that these may eat? And this he said to try him; for he himself knew what he would do. Philip answered him: Two hundred pennyworth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one may take a little. One of his disciples, Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter, saith to him: There is a boy here that hath five barley loaves, and two fishes; but what are these among so many? Then Jesus said: Make the men sit down. Now there was much grass in the place. The men therefore sat down, in number about five thousand. And Jesus took the loaves: and when he had given thanks, he distributed to them that were set down. In like manner also of the fishes, as much as they would. And when they were filled, he said to his disciples: Gather up the fragments that remain, lest they be lost. They gathered up therefore, and filled twelve baskets with the fragments of the five barley loaves, which remained over and above to them that had eaten. Now those men, when they had seen what a miracle Jesus had done, said: This is of a truth the prophet, that is to come into the world. Jesus therefore, when he knew that they would come to take him by force, and make him king, fled again into the mountain himself alone.
John 6:1-15 (Douay-Rheims Bible)

Prayer Reflection

Dear Father it is a miracle of great magnitude that we read about. How the loaves and fishes a young boy had turned out to feed the many that were present. Even if people carried some with them to tide them over on their travels, food was passed to all who were there. And to think they collected twelve baskets over and above what was eaten. Nearly impossible, since they stated that it was mostly bread fragments that were collected. The miracle of bread! Jesus throughout his ministry keeps pointing out to us the miracle of the Eucharist, the bread from heaven, his very self. He is truly the Son of God, no mere prophet but the genuine Son of the Most High God. It is in this very miracle that we see Jesus in our daily bread that we receive at Mass. It is no accident that we have such a glorious treasure. Have you eaten of the bread that came down from heaven to feed a multitude? Don't delay, but make time to dine with Jesus where his presence is always.

Doubt No More

Now when it was late that same day, the first of the week, and the doors were shut, where the disciples were gathered together, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in the midst, and said to them: Peace be to you. And when he had said this, he shewed them his hands and his side. The disciples therefore were glad, when they saw the Lord. He said therefore to them again: Peace be to you. As the Father hath sent me, I also send you. When he had said this, he breathed on them; and he said to them: Receive ye the Holy Ghost. Whose sins you shall forgive, they are forgiven them; and whose sins you shall retain, they are retained.

Now Thomas, one of the twelve, who is called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came.
The other disciples therefore said to him: We have seen the Lord. But he said to them: Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the place of the nails, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe. And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them. Jesus cometh, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said: Peace be to you. Then he saith to Thomas: Put in thy finger hither, and see my hands; and bring hither thy hand, and put it into my side; and be not faithless, but believing. Thomas answered, and said to him: My Lord, and my God. Jesus saith to him: Because thou hast seen me, Thomas, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and have believed. Many other signs also did Jesus in the sight of his disciples, which are not written in this book. But these are written, that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God: and that believing, you may have life in his name.
John 20:19-31 (Douay-Rheims Bible)

Prayer Reflection

Dear Father you know all about us and what makes us tick, you know our thoughts our feelings and the depth of our belief in your Son. Thomas and the apostles went through much and overcame a lot in the time your Son lived and died and rose from the dead. To see Jesus suffer the way he did and empty himself completely, it's no wonder Thomas doubted. Who could live that suffering let alone be brought back to life with no blood left in their body. Yet throughout Jesus ministry he was pointing the way of the Divine Mystery. But still Thomas wouldn't believe unless he touched the side and holes in the hands of Jesus to know it was really him. Don't we tend to do the same thing with Jesus ourselves in our day. Because we don't see him we want to touch him as Thomas did in order for us to believe in the truth that Jesus rose from the dead. We do touch Him everytime we receive Him in the Eucharist, he becomes part of us in a tangible way. We recognize Him in the breaking of the bread. He touches our lives often in a dramatic and personal way, but we like Thomas often doubt. But you dear Father never let us down and continue to show us the truth when we open our hearts to the Word. That of your Son.

Money Again

And they went out quickly from the sepulchre with fear and great joy, running to tell his disciples. And behold Jesus met them, saying: All hail. But they came up and took hold of his feet, and adored him. Then Jesus said to them: Fear not. Go, tell my brethren that they go into Galilee, there they shall see me. Who when they were departed, behold some of the guards came into the city, and told the chief priests all things that had been done. And they being assembled together with the ancients, taking counsel, gave a great sum of money to the soldiers, Saying: Say you, His disciples came by night, and stole him away when we were asleep. And if the governor shall hear this, we will persuade him, and secure you. So they taking the money, did as they were taught: and this word was spread abroad among the Jews even unto this day.
Matthew 28:8-15 (Douay-Rheims Bible)

Prayer Reflection

Dear Father the women who met up with Jesus knew him instantly when they saw him. How glorious a day that was for them. And for us too, when we encounter our risen Lord in the Eucharist. But now we see money is also changing hands to stop the truth from coming out. And instead lies are to be spread. Do we often wonder how come we hear so many things in our day and find out they are not correct. After awhile the truth is revealed. Look at all the time that has passed since all this has happened and how the truth keeps coming to light. The truth amazingly is the correct way, where lies are nothing but darkness. Corruption was happening in Jesus' time and continues today, but do we want the truth or lies. Will truth be what wins the day and will the light of Jesus shine bright in our hearts when we also encounter the Risen Lord in the Eucharist.

Come and See

Memorial of Saint John Neumann, bishop

On the following day, he would go forth into Galilee, and he findeth Philip. And Jesus saith to him: Follow me. Now Philip was of Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. Philip findeth Nathanael, and saith to him: We have found him of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets did write, Jesus the son of Joseph of Nazareth. And Nathanael said to him: Can any thing of good come from Nazareth? Philip saith to him: Come and see. Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him: and he saith of him: Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom there is no guile. Nathanael saith to him: Whence knowest thou me? Jesus answered, and said to him: Before that Philip called thee, when thou wast under the fig tree, I saw thee. Nathanael answered him, and said: Rabbi, thou art the Son of God, thou art the King of Israel. Jesus answered, and said to him: Because I said unto thee, I saw thee under the fig tree, thou believest: greater things than these shalt thou see. And he saith to him: Amen, amen I say to you, you shall see the heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man.
John 1:43-51 (Douay-Rheims Bible)

Prayer Reflection

Dear Father there are those words again "follow me" and "come and see" that Jesus has said. Those words that tell us to follow him and come to see for yourselves the place he lives always with us. Such Eucharistic words. One can't help but follow when we believe in His presence. Where we partake of the banquet of the Lamb. To think that after all these years that have passed since these words have been written, they still speak clearly to us to come and see him at our daily Masses and our Adoration Chapels. Where we can visit with Him as he speaks to our hearts. When we truly come to believe in His presence in this gift of great love, we shall see the heaven opened and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man.

Thursday in the Octave of Easter

The disciples of Jesus recounted what had taken place along the way,
and how they had come to recognize him in the breaking of bread.

While they were still speaking about this,
he stood in their midst and said to them,
“Peace be with you.”
But they were startled and terrified
and thought that they were seeing a ghost.
Then he said to them, “Why are you troubled?
And why do questions arise in your hearts?
Look at my hands and my feet, that it is I myself.
Touch me and see, because a ghost does not have flesh and bones
as you can see I have.”
And as he said this,
he showed them his hands and his feet.
While they were still incredulous for joy and were amazed,
he asked them, “Have you anything here to eat?”
They gave him a piece of baked fish;
he took it and ate it in front of them.

He said to them,
“These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you,
that everything written about me in the law of Moses
and in the prophets and psalms must be fulfilled.”
Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures.
And he said to them,
“Thus it is written that the Christ would suffer
and rise from the dead on the third day
and that repentance, for the forgiveness of sins,
would be preached in his name
to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem.
You are witnesses of these things.”
Luke 24:35-48

Prayer

Dear Father your sons sudden appearance in front of his disciples must have frightened them briefly, yet he shows them that he is alive and in the flesh. He eats with them and comforts them. Thank you for letting us have your son Jesus in such a special way as in the Eucharist where each encounter we meet him anew in awe of his live presence. Our lives have been enhanced because of your love and the witnessing of the apostles, where the scriptures were opened up to them for us to also understand. May our lives be forever touched by this grace. Amen