Who is standing in for Jesus

When Jesus had washed the disciples’ feet, he said to them:
“Amen, amen, I say to you, no slave is greater than his master
nor any messenger greater than the one who sent him.
If you understand this, blessed are you if you do it.
I am not speaking of all of you.
I know those whom I have chosen.
But so that the Scripture might be fulfilled,
The one who ate my food has raised his heel against me.
From now on I am telling you before it happens,
so that when it happens you may believe that I AM.
Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever receives the one I send
receives me, and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me.”
John 13:16-20 (NAB)

Prayer Reflection

Dear Father Jesus had a tough time when he found betrayal in one of the ones that were chosen. He knew what was to come and he told them so they would believe. He does that with us too, he gives us snippets of things to show us the Truth of your Word. I was captured by the words Jesus spoke in this Gospel message, "The one who ate my food has raised his heel against me." Don't we do this to Jesus too when we receive communion and go out the doors from his sanctuary and gossip with our neighbors. Or commit sins and fail to reconcile ourselves in the sacrament of Penance. In this sense aren't we doing the same as the one who betrayed Jesus. It's amazing that in our Parishes we have Priest who took on the role to live in imitation of Christ, but many have failed to receive the ones Jesus sends us, they leave and turn their backs on the Church when the Truth is spoken through them. Thinking about the many people who leave parishes because they clash with their pastors, did they understand this Gospel and the last words spoken. Probably not and they also failed to receive Jesus in those moments.

Food For Thought

The next day, the multitude that stood on the other side of the sea, saw that there was no other ship there but one, and that Jesus had not entered into the ship with his disciples, but that his disciples were gone away alone. But other ships came in from Tiberias; nigh unto the place where they had eaten the bread, the Lord giving thanks. When therefore the multitude saw that Jesus was not there, nor his disciples, they took shipping, and came to Capharnaum, seeking for Jesus. And when they had found him on the other side of the sea, they said to him: Rabbi, when camest thou hither? Jesus answered them, and said: Amen, amen I say to you, you seek me, not because you have seen miracles, but because you did eat of the loaves, and were filled. Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that which endureth unto life everlasting, which the Son of man will give you. For him hath God, the Father, sealed. They said therefore unto him: What shall we do, that we may work the works of God? Jesus answered, and said to them: This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he hath sent.
John 6:22-29 (Douay-Rheims Bible)

Reflection

Dear Father we have to wonder if we are exactly like these people who had just finished eating from the miraculous multiplication of loaves and fishes. These people went in search of him and knew by what they saw how Divine Jesus really was. In Jesus' question though, he wants to know if they are seeking him because of these miracles, or is it because they have been fed and their stomachs are the reason they search for him. Ever notice how in the food industry, such as restaurants, food stores, many things are upsized or down sized to pay a higher price. Or how there is more emphasis on fast food meals. More or less heat it up and off you go. Food is important in order to allow the body to function, but we have grown in proportion to the products that are pre-made. Even our bodies reflect the chemicals that we ingest. Jesus provided them with a fast food take out, and it seems that they want more of this so they don't have the work that is entailed to make a meal. We've gotten like this haven't we? Jesus questions us too, do we seek him only for the fact that he provides us with miracles or do we seek Him so we will be part of Him because we believe in Him and you dear Father. I believe in Jesus, because he is who he is and not for what he can give. The son of God who came to unite us with him.

A Full House

Memorial of Saints Timothy and Titus, bishops

And they come to a house, and the multitude cometh together again, so that they could not so much as eat bread. And when his friends had heard of it, they went out to lay hold on him. For they said: He is become mad.
Mark 3:20-21 (Douay-Rheims Bible)

Prayer Reflection

Dear Father your son went beyond himself to take care of the needs of those who came in search of him. They loved him so much that they followed him to the home he went to rest at. But those who were there could not eat in peace and thought Jesus mad because he still tended to those in need. He gives us quite an example that even though we have a set time to sit down and dine, there are times that ministering to others is more important than ourselves and our needs. He shows us how not to be selfish when others seek us out as they did him. Even to the point when our meals are interrupted or our routine. They thought him mad all because he cared enough to take care of those present and be with them. He didn't tell them to leave and come back after they've eaten, he listened to them and talked to them. He gave them love and his undivided attention. Dear Father how often do we do this ourselves when people come seeking us out at inopportune times, or interrupt us when we are eating. Do we stop and listen, or do we tell them to come back at a more convenient time. Where is the love then for neighbor. Dear Father help us to set the example that when we are interrupted and sought out by others while we eat, to be patient and giving of our time as Jesus did, even if it means going without eating for the sake of another. Amen

Monday of the Third Week of Easter

[After Jesus had fed the five thousand men, his disciples saw him walking on the sea.]
The next day, the crowd that remained across the sea
saw that there had been only one boat there,
and that Jesus had not gone along with his disciples in the boat,
but only his disciples had left.
Other boats came from Tiberias
near the place where they had eaten the bread
when the Lord gave thanks.
When the crowd saw that neither Jesus nor his disciples were there,
they themselves got into boats
and came to Capernaum looking for Jesus.
And when they found him across the sea they said to him,
“Rabbi, when did you get here?”
Jesus answered them and said,
“Amen, amen, I say to you, you are looking for me
not because you saw signs
but because you ate the loaves and were filled.
Do not work for food that perishes
but for the food that endures for eternal life,
which the Son of Man will give you.
For on him the Father, God, has set his seal.”
So they said to him,
“What can we do to accomplish the works of God?”
Jesus answered and said to them,
“This is the work of God, that you believe in the one he sent.”
John 6:22-29

Prayer

Dear Father our work for food is the one food that does not perish. The source for eternal life. The fruits of our labors for the kingdom of God. May we strive each day for this food and work all the harder for it. Where we reap not only life but a life lived in you. May we believe in the one you sent for our salvation, who is the bread from heaven. Who nourishes us with your Word and fills us with his body and blood. A blessing from heaven. Amen

The List

"But what comes out of the man, that is what defiles him. From within the man, from his heart, come evil thoughts, unchastity, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, licentiousness, envy, blasphemy, arrogance, folly. All these evils come from within and they defile."
Mark 7:20-23

Reflection:
There's a lot of truth to what Jesus said, what comes out of us is what defiles us. Basically what our heart's and minds desire. It can be the hardest thing to say a person is bad because they lust after another. We all are good, but what makes us holy and what does not is how we think.

When we think about committing theft, murder, malice, deceit we are not holy. We are planning what evil we will do to another. It's not hard to understand when we think these things we go against the kingdom of God. They do defile, they make a person unclean in spirit.

If any do and think of some of these things without realizing it, then try something for yourself. Take a moment and reflect on how you really feel when we have thoughts of envy, arrogance, folly, deceit and malice. Think about it! The feeling isn't pleasant. Next, take a moment and think about the moments when you were kind to another person, when your thoughts were based on good thoughts for another rather than thinking of how envious we are. There is a difference in how we are and how we feel when we remove what makes us vile.

It's like eating something that is not good, and causes us to get sick. What are we most likely to do when we get ill in such a way? We try to make ourselves feel better. Our bodies also let us know there is a sickness within after eating something not good. The same when we begin to think in the way that is vile rather than good. We all have free will and a choice on how we live and conduct ourselves. I've chosen to care about my heart, mind and soul and watch with care what comes from me. Do you? In this sense the saying, "We are what we eat, could also reflect on what we think and say." Have a blessed day!