Word to the Wise
Thursday, May 16, 2019 - 4th Week of Easter - Thurs
[Acts 13:13-25 and John 13:16-20]"Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever receives the one I send receives me, and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me." [John]
These words of Jesus in the Gospel According to John follow his washing the feet of the disciples at the Last Supper. It should be noted that in the Gospel According to John, there is no mention of the establishment of the Eucharist (as it came to be called much later). Jesus' teaching on that appears in chapter 6. There is, however, an important nuance in Jesus' words about sending and receiving.
The word "apostle" comes from a Greek word that means one who is sent as a messenger. The word is not mentioned in the Gospel According to John, but the mission to speak the truth and to "bear fruit" is very definitely mentioned. When a believer does this, he or she is making Christ truly present to the one who receives the message. This highlights the importance of preaching and personal witness. As important as the celebration of the Eucharist is, the "real presence" of Christ in the person of faith who shares that with others is also crucial. By virtue of our baptism and confirmation we are sent to bear witness. We have Jesus' assurance that whoever receives the one whom he has sent, receives him! That is a powerful thought to carry with us in our everyday life as Catholic Christians! AMEN