Monday, April 19, 2021


Monday of the Third Week of Easter

(Acts 6:8-15; John 6:22-29)

Every Monday morning a group of homeless congregate for prayer, coffee, and a breakfast sandwich.  They sit in a circle while the convener reads the Sunday gospel and comments upon it.  Few seem to pay much attention or participate in the intercessory prayer.  They seem like the people looking for Jesus in today’s gospel.

Jesus challenges the group.  He tells them that do not seek him for the eternal life he promises but for the food he provides.  Remarkably, he does not reject them but engages them in dialogue.  They ask him how they are to behave, and he responds.  They must believe in him.  That is, they are to accept his teaching as coming from God.  It is a tall order, but some of them will fill it.

We may not be looking for a handout from the Church.  But we still are challenged to believe.  It becomes hard when we are called to make sacrifices which belief entails.  Some may have to take care of a parent who is losing her faculties or to accept his own homosexuality without sexual gratification.  All of us should support, at least in prayer, those making such sacrifices for Christ.