Today’s Liturgy of the Word underscores the passion behind Father Eymard’s words, “Tomorrow will be too late.”

Today’s Liturgy of the Word sounds like a pep talk: (1) chastisement for a flagrant sinner among the flock; (2) “no evil…stands against you”; (3) “My sheep hear my voice…and they follow me”; (4) “…is it lawful to do good on the sabbath…?”  Each quote encourages us to take care of each other.  We do not need a vocal response because our actions speak louder than words.

Choosing our behavior has results—sometimes known as consequences.  People make choices through infancy, childhood, adolescence, and adulthood, learn by doing, and experience consequences (sometimes ignored).

Growth as witnesses starts with supporting each other.  Then, becoming more aware of our food and how the Eucharist feeds us, we learn we are what we eat.  Just as the apostles needed to learn to share their lives to spread the Good News, we become aware of the seeds sown on the paths, on the rocks, among the weeds, and good soil.  We grow, shifting from being listeners to sharers and maybe to fishers of others.

By living, we become witnesses, spreading the Good News, supported continuously by each other. And while not all are directed to go out and preach or heal as Jesus did, all of us are given the command “Come, Follow Me” to live the Good News.

Let us be “witnesses,” being loved by others and loving others.  As Pope John Paul II acknowledged this in Father Eymard, declaring him Apostle of the Eucharist, let us live to be disciples and apostles to and with each other. Today, all things are made new; tomorrow…may be too late.

Let Us Pray

Father in heaven, the wonder of your love for each of us is boundless in our lives, and yet Jesus’ command is very simple: love our Father in heaven and love one another.  For a gift so infinite, fulfilling such a command seems inadequate, almost inconsequential, yet that is what you ask.  Help me to live this command with a child’s heart, with a boundless, tireless joy to share with others.  Like the thousands of people who followed Jesus because he inspired hope for all, blessing them with healing, forgiveness, and redemption from sin, let me, in my way, carry a basket of blessed bread and fish to them so that all may experience your boundless love.