CONSISTENTLY BELIEVING AND UNDERSTANDING IN LIVING FAITH............

The scriptural treatise that encompasses the theology of the Eucharist we believe and understand as Catholic-Christians in the Gospel of John Chapter 6, which has been our Sunday Gospel Proclamation at Mass, the past several weeks concludes today.  Yet the central theme of our Sunday Scriptures today is not eucharistic, but rather our need for consistency in believing and understanding that our Faith and Discipleship in Jesus is a solid anchor at all times, in every circumstance, and not grow disillusioned in the face of difficulties and hardship.  Many of the Jesus' initial followers eagerly sought after Him and accepted His teachings until the mystery of the Eucharist was proclaimed.  What they could not comprehend or accept in believing that the bread Jesus shared with them is His very own Body caused them to drop away.  Consistency in believing and understanding the Teachings of Jesus Christ is not about blind or unquestioning faith, but about possessing and maintaining a vibrant, Living Faith built on the rock of Discipleship that is fortified and sustained by the inclusion of Prayer in our daily lives, taking time to contemplate and discern the presence and direction God is calling us to embrace and share, as we carry out our individual and collective responsibilities as Faithful Witnesses of the Father, Son, and Spirit, redeemed and reinvigorated in Christ.  On this 21st Sunday in Ordinary Time and during the week ahead, make an extra effort to make time for the quality of Prayer necessary to keep your life anchored in believing and understanding whatever you may be experiencing good, bad, joyful, sorrowful, - that with Living Faith in the presence and power of Jesus The Christ ever with us - we can and will continue to proceed on the path that bears our truest purpose and fulfillment: Discipleship that will be crowned by dwelling forever in the Light and Love of the Eternal Living and True God............Fr.  Troy