Monday 3rd Week of Easter A 2026

Gospel 

John 6:22-29

[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.”

 

Eternal life is through Jesus Christ alone. He came to bring all men and women home. And he established one church through the disciples and gave them the power to forgive sins. He appointed Peter as the rock to build his church on. That apostolic tradition has been handed down through the ages from pope to pope. Not perfect men who say perfect things but like Peter, imperfect men who he can use to lead his church in the world. To forgive sins, to baptize and to ensure that his body and blood is available to those who believe. His body. And blood is real. Truly the body and blood of Jesus Christ. It is only through his body and blood, food that he gave us, that we will find eternal life. He has never been unclear about this. Not here or throughout John’s Gospel.

 

And many people left him. Many disciples left for the whole idea of eating man’s flesh was rejected by them.

 

If he had meant it was just a symbol no one would have left him.

 

So, we are asked again today to believe in Jesus Christ as a requirement for eternal life and to eat his food that he gives us.

Many people that day only sought him out of hunger for perishable food that only satisfies and nourishes for a brief period. But his body and blood is eternal food for children of God so that they may be taken up into an eternal heaven and live with the Father. Our focus each day should be on Jesus Christ.

Our priorities start with God first and the everything and everyone else. Blessed are those who understand this and live as Jesus told us. Seeking and believing in Jesus  Christ.

The Catholic Church was started by Jesus Christ. Established by Jesus himself.

Seek truth and God. It is when we seek truth that Jesus will be the answer we find. We may have to get in our own boats to cross through the waters of lies and false teachings before we find him waiting for us. But he is waiting for each of us. To choose him. To seek him. To trust in him.