Friday of the Third Week of Easter

Readings of the day: RB 64:1-6 The Election of an Abbess

Mass: Ac 9:1-20; Resp Ps 117; Jn 6:52-59

THE ONE WHO FEEDS ON ME WILL HAVE LIFE BECAUSE OF ME.

Pope Francis was in Molfetta, Italy, today, paying tribute to much-loved Fr Antonio (Tonino) Bello (Servant of God, Bishop of Molfetta, d. 1993). Recalling words of Don Tonino, the Pope stated: “works of charity are not enough, if the charity of works is lacking, if the love in which the works are conceived is lacking, if the starting point which is the Eucharist is lacking, every pastoral commitment is only a merry-go-round”. The Holy Father preached, “One could post a warning outside every church: ‘After Mass one no longer lives for oneself, but for others’.” Remembering Don Tonino and reflecting on Pope Francis’s homily, I went to something the Pope taught April 4, 2018, in a weekly catechesis: “Every time I go to Mass, I must leave better than I entered, with more life, with more strength, with a greater desire to give Christian witness. Through the Eucharist, the Lord Jesus enters in us, in our heart and in our flesh, so that we can ‘express in life the Sacrament received in faith’.” He continued, “From the celebration to life, therefore, aware that the Mass finds it fulfillment in the concrete choices of one who is personally involved in Christ’s mystery. We must not forget that we celebrate the Eucharist to learn to become Eucharistic men and women. What does this mean? It means to let Christ act in our works: that His thoughts be our thoughts, He sentiments ours, His choices our choices. And this is holiness: to do as Christ did is Christian holiness.”

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the Living God,

transform our hearts; act in our works; help us to love; help us to live for others.

Servant of God, Don Tonino Bello, pray for us.

WHOEVER EATS THIS BREAD WILL LIVE FOREVER.