LOOKING FOR JESUS

 

When the crowd saw that neither Jesus nor his disciples were there, they themselves got into boats and came to Capernaum looking for Jesus.

                                                                                                John 6:24

 

 

Where is Jesus in your life?

For me, Jesus is in the Eucharist.

I eat his body and drink his blood every Sunday. His love permeates my heart and soul on a daily basis. And yet, sometimes I feel that Jesus is nowhere to be found.

 

When Jesus was just twelve years old, his parents thought he was with the family in the caravan leaving Jesus after the holy days. They searched for him for three days. Finally they went to the Temple to most likely pray in desperation. When they saw him teaching the elders and listening, they were astounded and hurt.

 

His mother said, “Jesus, why have you done this to your father and me? Did you not know we would be looking for you?”

Jesus answered, “Why did you look for me? Didn’t you know that I had to be in my Father’s house?”

 

Jesus says in John 6:35:

“I am the bread of life. All who come to me will never hunger. And all who believe in me will never thirst.”

 

I don’t know about you, but I hunger for Jesus. I thirst for the blood and water that flows from his side.

 

St. Augustine says:

“Christ the Lord wants to come into us and dwell in us. Like a good builder he says: A new commandment I give you: Love one another. He says, I give you a new commandment. He means: Before, you were not engaged in building a house for me, but you lay in ruins. Therefore, to be raised up from your former state of ruin you must love one another.”

 

Jesus is already in our midst. Jesus might be looking for the real you and me already. Will Jesus find us? I think so. And so this past weekend, in my homily at Queen of Peace in Gainesville, I emphasized their mission statement:

 

As Christians we receive God’s gifts gratefully,

cultivate them responsibly,

share them lovingly in justice with others,

and return them with increase to the Lord.

I realized that Mary, the Mother of Jesus and the Mother of God did just that.

She received God’s gift of Jesus into her body and womb with gratitude.

She cultivated the gift by bring Jesus up with a great love for God.

She shared Jesus loving in justice with others even if it meant that her heart would be pierced.

And she also returned the broken body of Jesus as in the pieta with increase. Jesus was given to all of us in the Eucharist.

 

Have a blessed week.

Love, joy, peace,

Father Ron Moses +

 

P.S. I will be starting school at Loyola University Maryland in September. Pray for me as I pursue doctoral studies in Pastoral Counseling. I love the Jesuits!