True belief and relationship with our Lord is difficult. We are very good at memorizing and reciting. But to have a relationship with Him whom you can’t physically see is very difficult.

Last weekend, Jesus said to Thomas after Thomas placed his hand into Jesus’ side, “Blessed are those who do not see but believe.” How much easier would it be for us if we were Thomas, being able to see the Risen Lord. Or this weekend’s Gospel where the two disciples were made aware of Jesus’ presence through the interpretation of the Word and the breaking of the bread. To have TRUE belief in our Lord means we have a relationship with Him. That we permit ourselves to surrender into something that our rational minds say we can’t. We can’t hide behind our recitation and memorization to avoid a relationship with Him. When we die, our Lord won’t ask, “How many rosaries did you pray?” (The rosary is a valuable and beautiful prayer so don’t take this analogy and go crazy). More likely, He will ask, “Do you know me?” It’s about relationship.

Read and listen to the excitement of Peter in the first reading today. He is so enraptured with his relationship with our Lord that He openly (in an extremely hostile environment) proclaims Jesus to be raised from the dead; that Jesus is that promise of the Father - the One who leads us to the Father.

Good prayers to pray to our Father are simple ones a lot of the time - Father, help me to know you. Father, help me to see you Son in others. Jesus, be with me today. Now, don’t just say these prayers and move on but stay with them. We normally don’t have one sentence interactions with each other so stay with our God and listen to what He has to say to us. Prayer is a two-way street with us and the Father, or the Son, or the Holy Spirit.

Remember, our faith is about relationship. And He desires so much to have one with you.

May the Lord give you His Peace,

Fr. Bob