Reflections on the Sunday Readings

Our readings today tell us of the two most prominent saints of the Christian faith. But, for these two, like most of us, they did not start out that way.   Both encountered Jesus   in very different ways, but each had to decide, following that encounter, whether to follow Jesus completely or not.   And even when they did decide to follow him, we can see from the scriptures, it does not mean there was a smooth easy road ahead of them.   For both, in their relationship to Jesus and in the development of their own faith in Jesus, there were questions and periods of confusion . Peter initially, encounters Jesus after a night fishing and catching nothing.   Peter has pulled his boat on shore, but Jesus tells him to put out into water and cast his nets again Simon, the fisherman, informs Jesus, “Master, we have worked hard all night and have caught nothing, but at your command I will lower the nets.” (Luke 5:5)      Of course, we know what happens tha...

  This weekend our liturgy focuses on   the feast of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ .                       The gospel this weekend, while not a eucharistic feast itself, has all the ear marks of Jesus    concern for those who seek him and are his followers.   In the gospel, Jesus asks the apostles to feed the crowd.   They respond that they have only 5 loaves and 2  f ish.     So little for so many.   But Jesus asks them to give what little they have.   Imagine what their thoughts might have been when Jesus takes all they have (little as it is) and feeds everyone.   They are asked to trust in Jesus, surrender what they have, believe that it will be more than enough, and receive what Jesus will give them in return.   From those 5 loaves of bread and two fish, he, after praying (i.e., “looking up to heaven”) is able to provide food enough for all t...

                                                                          Our readings on Pentecost bring to an end the Easter season with the fulfillment of Jesus’ promise, about the coming of the Holy Spirit.                                                                                                           When the day of Pentecost came the Spirit came upon the apostles and the disciples gathered in the Upper Room.  They have been told to remain in Jerusalem until the coming of the Spirit.   So much has hap...