After much thought and some deep soul searching, I had to admit to myself recently that I have become one of those guys who will watch the same show over and over and over. It's a little embarrassing to admit it, because I’m not even talking about regular re-watches like The Office or Parks and Rec. Oh no, my friends; my Netflix re-watch craving can only be satisfied by the majesty and splendor of - you guessed it - The Great British Baking Show. Actually, I guess it might not be that unusual; I wager we all have a show or movie we enjoy watching again where we get to notice new details each time. It helps us stay engaged and connected to what we are doing.

Sometimes I fall into my habits and treat the Gospel the same way. Today's reading for me is the equivalent of yet another rerun of something I have seen a million times. The sermon of the Good Shepherd is after all one of the most famous passages in the entire New Testament, and it can be tempting to write it off as another repeat to be skimmed. But the Gospel today satisfies a hunger that even the wholesome flakey biscuits of The Great British Baking Show can't begin to fill, or answer. A hunger to know Who is God? Who am I? Do I really belong here? What about my friends, my family? If a polite baking show could satisfy any of these questions that keep us up at night, I would skip this whole thing and just post y’all the link. 

Instead, this desire leads us back to the Gospel where Jesus says: “I am the Good Shepherd." Not because he is handy sheering sheep and is good at his job does He say this, but because of His love. He lays down His life for us, He knows us, and He does not forget those who have wandered away. Jesus says that “they will hear my voice." We can hear His voice today, no matter how far we may be. The best part is that its not a re-run, it is new, fresh, and alive! The challenge to us today is to invite Jesus into each new season of our life.

In what ways have you started to treat the Gospel as a re-run, as something you already know and something that doesn't have anything new to say to you? How can you fight this temptation in your life?

What does God being your Shepherd mean to you? How is He shepherding you in your life today?

What new things does God want to do in your life today? Take some time to pray with Him and asking Him what it is He wants to begin in your life this day. 

"You are my Shepherd."

"You are doing something new."

​"Lead me, Lord."

Make a plan for this coming week to do something new in your faith and relationship with the Lord. Maybe you seek to go to daily Mass in the morning before school or work. Maybe you take lunch time to visit the Chapel if you go to a Catholic school, or you simply find some time during your day to pray. Whatever it is, let God do something new this week by seeking Him in a new way.

Be comfortable in the mystery!

As I sit down and write this reflection for our Gospel today, I’m also awaiting the call from my mom bearing the good news of my new niece or nephew. My sister is in the hospital about to give birth and it will be a surprise to all on whether it is a boy or girl. We all can’t wait and it is certainly exciting, especially with the mystery involved about not knowing if it is a boy or girl.

This week we have been reflecting on John chapter 6 and how Jesus clearly states that He is the Bread of Life; that when we eat this bread we literally consume His Flesh and Blood, which in turn gives us life. It is a hard statement and our Gospel speaks of “many of his disciples returning to their former way of life and no longer walking with him,” because of this hard teaching. 

Once again we have the opportunity to remind ourselves: “Be comfortable in the mystery!” There are many things in life or more specifically in our faith that can be hard to grasp, but just because the answer is not visibly in our face, does not mean it’s not true. Even though no one in my family knows the answer yet, we will have the answer soon on whether a boy or girl is born; this reflection also went through the computer and somehow reached everyone’s phone or device this morning...in my mind I have no idea how this is possible, but it happened. And most importantly, Jesus is really present in the Eucharist as He said, even though Holy Communion still looks and tastes like bread. 
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Brothers and sisters, mystery and wonder are good, please don’t run from it, reject it or go back to former ways. Rather, trust with all your heart in the Lord’s words and enter into the mystery. 

What are some things you know to be true, but are still a mystery?

How can you learn to trust even if you cannot fully understand?

Do you believe the Eucharist is truly Jesus? Can you articulate why?

"I love You Lord."

"Come Holy Spirit."

"Jesus, I trust in You."

Spend some time with Jesus today. If you can go to Adoration, go! If not, find a Catholic Church that is open and spend some time with Jesus in the Tabernacle. Ask Him to help you understand this beautiful mystery a little more today.

Click the link below or open your Bible to the passage and read through the reading at least once, paying attention to what is happening in the text. ​

“Whoever eats my Flesh and drinks my Blood remains in me and I in him.”

There are so many good things this world has to offer; I want to speak about one of these good things in particular. My mother’s cooking! Being away from home for some time, I get so excited for that first meal back with the family. The struggle though is that after a while, even home cooking gets old. I quickly lose appreciation for it; and even more practically lasagna isn’t really good as leftovers by the 3rd day. 

Jesus speaks about giving us a meal that remains in us though, a meal that doesn’t lose its luster. It’s Him. By receiving Jesus, we enter into Him, and He enters into us. Slow down. Think about that for a second. Jesus invites us to enter into Him, into His love. We have the opportunity to curl up in that love and remain there. Remain sounds permanent. Jesus more obviously enters into us when we receive the Eucharist and He remains in us. What does He do once He gets in? He loves us from the inside out. He makes us perfect. He reminds us that we are not alone. One of the many beautiful parts about it? He too wants to remain in us permanently.

Sometimes it’s hard to want the goodness. When I call my mom on my drive home, I always ask ‘what’s for supper?’, and sometimes she says goulash…bleh. Even typing that word isn’t fun. I’m never excited for goulash but once I get home, I take a deep breath and try to just receive. My mom makes me a plate of it with a side of butter toast and dang. It’s good. It surprises me every time. 

Sometimes it’s hard to want Jesus’s goodness. When I go to Mass, sometimes I’m excited, but other times I’m feeling really closed off to wanting to receive Jesus. Maybe in that moment it feels like Jesus is asking too much of me. Maybe it’s the fact that I’m tired and Mass is extra-long that day. I do my best to take a deep breath and try to just receive. Jesus shares His whole self with me and dang. It’s good. It surprises me every time. And you know what? It’s good the second day and the third and so on…It doesn’t just satisfy for an evening. Jesus wants to remain in us, and us to remain in Him—and that love will never get old. Settle deep into His generous love, even when it’s hard.

Am I bored by the good things that Jesus gives me?

Am I open to being surprised by satisfaction of being with Jesus at Mass knowing He loves me from the inside out?

What is my attitude surrounding going to Mass? Is it something I dread or something I'm excited to take part in?

"I am satisfied by Jesus."

"Jesus loves me from the inside out."

"Jesus remains in me."

Start today to prepare your mind, heart, and attitude for Sunday Mass. If you normally find it a drudgery to get up on Sunday morning and just 'do the same thing over again' like eating lasagna leftovers on day 4, make a real effort to change your attitude. Be open to the goodness and greatness that the Lord has in store for you at His table. Remain in His love.

How great does eternal life sound? How great does perfect peace, happiness, fulfillment, and love sound? How about no sickness, suffering, or death? No more fighting, no gossip or sadness, no violence or pain. Only what is good remains. That sounds pretty nice to me. What makes it even better is that this life is actually available to each and every person.

God did not intend for us to have to deal with all the bad stuff we face in life. He never wanted us to get sick, feel jealous or hurt, endure physical or mental suffering, or even die at all. Each and every person, yourself included, is made for greatness. You are made to experience a perfect life, free from all suffering and death, that God planned for from the beginning. The only thing that holds anyone back from this perfection is sin. Sin is what turns us away from God and toward the bad things that harm us, like lies and violence. It causes pain, lies, suffering, and death, and keeps from the greatness of God. 

Fear not, we have the solution to this sin problem. In Scripture, Christ calls Himself a physician, or a doctor. What do doctors do? Heal the sick, fix our problems. Well, humanity has this sin problem, but Christ gives us the spiritual medicine. Our medicine isn't a pill or anything from a bottle, it is the bread from Heaven. Jesus says in today’s Gospel that He is “the living bread that came down from Heaven; whoever eats this bread will live forever.” What is this bread? It is Jesus’ “Flesh for the life of the world.” 

Sin is what causes death, but Christ, the Bread from Heaven, is what causes and offers everlasting life. Jesus knows our pain and experienced it all, especially when He was scourged and crucified. But He didn’t just feel our pain, He offers us a solution to is. HE is the solution by freeing us from the effects of sin through the medicine of the Bread of Life. When we receive the Eucharist, “whoever believes has eternal life.” You receive this bread that Jesus is talking about in this Gospel. You receive His Flesh and that small, Heavenly bread sets you free from sin and opens the door to eternal life. The more of Jesus you receive, the closer you get to that everlasting peace, joy, and love with God. 

All people can come and receive the Bread of Life. Anyone can come to know Jesus and accept His invitation to eternity in Heaven, free from all suffering and pain. You especially. Receive Christ into your heart and accept the life He wants to give you. Take your Heavenly medicine and accept the greatness you are made for. 

How would eternal life be different from the life you have now? What would your life be like without all the things that keep you from God, without all the lies and pain?

How have you experienced the Bread of Life? In what ways has Jesus helped you in your life through His presence in the Eucharist?

How do you receive the Eucharist? Do you receive Jesus during Mass as the gateway to eternity and everlasting happiness with the Father in Heaven?

"Help me."

"I need You."

"I want to receive You."

Go to Mass early this week and pray about the Eucharist. In prayer, ask the Holy Spirit to help you more fully appreciate what is going on during the celebration of the Mass. Ask the Holy to help you understand that the Eucharist is the bread from Heaven, the Flesh of Christ that is given to you out of God's desire for you to have eternal life with Him.