Friday of the Second Week of Easter
(Acts 5:34-42; John 6:1-15)
In today’s gospel Jesus asks the question, “’Where can we
buy enough food for them to eat?’” to test his disciple. He wants the disciple to recognize that the
food that matters most cannot be bought.
He gives it freely and abundantly.
That food, of course, is Jesus’ body and blood. He is the lamb of the new Passover, the
Eucharist. In the same Gospel of John
Jesus is sentenced to death at the moment when the Passover lambs start being slaughtered
in the temple. The Gospel is saying that
consumption of Jesus’ Passover sacrifice frees one from sin.
As Jesus tests his disciple, he tests us. He wants us to believe that it is really his
body and blood in the Eucharist and that it really gives life in abundance. There is no way to prove this truth, but the
saints testify to it. Cherishing the
Eucharist, they lived faithfully, lovingly, and joyfully. We should not be reluctant to follow their
example.
