The real deal...

We were talking today, during CCD class, about the signs in church that point us to Jesus, to God's presence among us... that was like pulling teeth! Then we talked about behavior in church; why we don't act like we're on the playground... someone responded that "we're trying to be holy". I asked the children if we had a holy side and a crazy side... do we act one way in church, and another when we're outside? Do our lives reflect that we have truly encountered the Risen Lord?

We have so many opportunities to encounter Jesus, but we've become distracted and have stopped seeking... in a sense, we're not dumbed down, we're "numbed down". We attend Mass, but sometimes we are not truly present: we don't immerse ourselves in the worship; we don't listen attentively to God's word proclaimed to us; we don't prepare our minds and hearts to receive this living word, so we cannot share this Good News with others; we don't truly believe that Jesus is present- Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity in the Eucharist.

Jesus Christ is the real deal! Following Christ is not easy; trusting His promises is not easy; believing that He is working things out for our good is not always easy... so what's the alternative? Jesus asked the Twelve, and He asks us today... "Do you also want to leave?"

May we echo Peter's words: "Master, to whom shall we go? You have the words of everlasting life. We have come to believe and are convinced that you are the Holy One of God."