And when evening was come, his disciples went down to the sea. And when they had gone up into a ship, they went over the sea to Capharnaum; and it was now dark, and Jesus was not come unto them. And the sea arose, by reason of a great wind that blew. When they had rowed therefore about five and twenty or thirty furlongs, they see Jesus walking upon the sea, and drawing nigh to the ship, and they were afraid. But he saith to them: It is I; be not afraid. They were willing therefore to take him into the ship; and presently the ship was at the land to which they were going.
John 6:16-21 (Douay-Rheims Bible)

Prayer Reflection

Dear Father in my thoughts I have placed myself where the apostles were on this night in the very boat with them. We've rowed out away from the shore and now the winds have risen up. My thoughts have circulated on Jesus and how he suffered on the cross and died a horrendous death. But as I recalled this with the others in the boat, we also had seen his risen presence. How truly fortunate for us he is still with us. My goodness these winds are beginning to truly rock the boat. It's dark out too and I am beginning to fear the water. I look out toward the shore, and I see, a man walking toward us and I truly become frightened, out of fear he may drown, without thought of his divine nature in this instant. He calls out and tells us to not be afraid, it is I he says. We really were frightened of the sea in the dark and seeing this man come to us. A man who we have known that died and came back to life. He's here, amazing but we are also back at shore, so fast too. He's here, he's really here with us, how can I be afraid then when he just did something extraordinary. My pulse quickens with the realization that he's really here with us.

One had to be there in person with them that night to know, and yet for us we can only imagine with God's grace to understand the truth. But more importantly, how does God's Word affect us in our life? Are we just as afraid as these men in the boat when we hear God's Word spoken. Jesus tells us to not be afraid, so why are we then?

After these things Jesus went over the sea of Galilee, which is that of Tiberias. And a great multitude followed him, because they saw the miracles which he did on them that were diseased. Jesus therefore went up into a mountain, and there he sat with his disciples. Now the pasch, the festival day of the Jews, was near at hand. When Jesus therefore had lifted up his eyes, and seen that a very great multitude cometh to him, he said to Philip: Whence shall we buy bread, that these may eat? And this he said to try him; for he himself knew what he would do. Philip answered him: Two hundred pennyworth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one may take a little. One of his disciples, Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter, saith to him: There is a boy here that hath five barley loaves, and two fishes; but what are these among so many? Then Jesus said: Make the men sit down. Now there was much grass in the place. The men therefore sat down, in number about five thousand. And Jesus took the loaves: and when he had given thanks, he distributed to them that were set down. In like manner also of the fishes, as much as they would. And when they were filled, he said to his disciples: Gather up the fragments that remain, lest they be lost. They gathered up therefore, and filled twelve baskets with the fragments of the five barley loaves, which remained over and above to them that had eaten. Now those men, when they had seen what a miracle Jesus had done, said: This is of a truth the prophet, that is to come into the world. Jesus therefore, when he knew that they would come to take him by force, and make him king, fled again into the mountain himself alone.
John 6:1-15 (Douay-Rheims Bible)

Prayer Reflection

Dear Father it is a miracle of great magnitude that we read about. How the loaves and fishes a young boy had turned out to feed the many that were present. Even if people carried some with them to tide them over on their travels, food was passed to all who were there. And to think they collected twelve baskets over and above what was eaten. Nearly impossible, since they stated that it was mostly bread fragments that were collected. The miracle of bread! Jesus throughout his ministry keeps pointing out to us the miracle of the Eucharist, the bread from heaven, his very self. He is truly the Son of God, no mere prophet but the genuine Son of the Most High God. It is in this very miracle that we see Jesus in our daily bread that we receive at Mass. It is no accident that we have such a glorious treasure. Have you eaten of the bread that came down from heaven to feed a multitude? Don't delay, but make time to dine with Jesus where his presence is always.

He that cometh from above, is above all. He that is of the earth, of the earth he is, and of the earth he speaketh. He that cometh from heaven, is above all. And what he hath seen and heard, that he testifieth: and no man receiveth his testimony. He that hath received his testimony, hath set to his seal that God is true. For he whom God hath sent, speaketh the words of God: for God doth not give the Spirit by measure. The Father loveth the Son: and he hath given all things into his hand. He that believeth in the Son, hath life everlasting; but he that believeth not the Son, shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.
John 3:31-36 (Douay-Rheims Bible)

Prayer Reflection

Dear Father we have so much to be thankful for in our lives. One of them is you most of all. Without you in our life we wouldn't be able to witness to the very many things you do for us. But one of the biggest beliefs is about you sending us your son. How in our daily lives Jesus touches each of us personally. Half of the time we are silent about how he touches us. I am reminded about the uniqueness of our Judicial system in this regard. If anyone has ever seen a trial in our Courts, or watched a mock one on TV would know that these courts are all about Truth to the highest degree of the Law. When swearing in they give a solemn oath to tell the truth, to give testimony and witness. Today's Gospel reading is telling us the same that if we are from above then we should be witnessing to this fact with truth and not keeping it hidden. Except we tend to hide who we are rather than live the truth that we are from Above.

Now when it was late that same day, the first of the week, and the doors were shut, where the disciples were gathered together, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in the midst, and said to them: Peace be to you. And when he had said this, he shewed them his hands and his side. The disciples therefore were glad, when they saw the Lord. He said therefore to them again: Peace be to you. As the Father hath sent me, I also send you. When he had said this, he breathed on them; and he said to them: Receive ye the Holy Ghost. Whose sins you shall forgive, they are forgiven them; and whose sins you shall retain, they are retained.

Now Thomas, one of the twelve, who is called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came.
The other disciples therefore said to him: We have seen the Lord. But he said to them: Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the place of the nails, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe. And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them. Jesus cometh, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said: Peace be to you. Then he saith to Thomas: Put in thy finger hither, and see my hands; and bring hither thy hand, and put it into my side; and be not faithless, but believing. Thomas answered, and said to him: My Lord, and my God. Jesus saith to him: Because thou hast seen me, Thomas, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and have believed. Many other signs also did Jesus in the sight of his disciples, which are not written in this book. But these are written, that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God: and that believing, you may have life in his name.
John 20:19-31 (Douay-Rheims Bible)

Prayer Reflection

Dear Father you know all about us and what makes us tick, you know our thoughts our feelings and the depth of our belief in your Son. Thomas and the apostles went through much and overcame a lot in the time your Son lived and died and rose from the dead. To see Jesus suffer the way he did and empty himself completely, it's no wonder Thomas doubted. Who could live that suffering let alone be brought back to life with no blood left in their body. Yet throughout Jesus ministry he was pointing the way of the Divine Mystery. But still Thomas wouldn't believe unless he touched the side and holes in the hands of Jesus to know it was really him. Don't we tend to do the same thing with Jesus ourselves in our day. Because we don't see him we want to touch him as Thomas did in order for us to believe in the truth that Jesus rose from the dead. We do touch Him everytime we receive Him in the Eucharist, he becomes part of us in a tangible way. We recognize Him in the breaking of the bread. He touches our lives often in a dramatic and personal way, but we like Thomas often doubt. But you dear Father never let us down and continue to show us the truth when we open our hearts to the Word. That of your Son.