Greg Friedman, OFM

Today’s Gospel invites us into a desert wilderness with Jesus as our shepherd and guide. Along with his disciples we’re invited to “come and rest.”

Christians today are commissioned to take a message to the world that is more and more prophetic, more and more calculated to meet with rejection.

In today’s Second Reading Saint Paul tells us how he had a “thorn in the flesh,” something—and we don’t know exactly what this was—which reminded Paul constantly of his need for God.

Christ’s whole mission is meant to bring a radical transformation which overcomes sin, disease, even death.

In today’s First Reading God asks Job to think about the power of the sea and its waves. That power, God says, is kept in check by God’s greater power!

When we are tempted to despair at the oppression or violence in our world we must remember that the Kingdom’s truth will prevail, and the love of God has overcome all in Jesus Christ.

Our Scriptures today emphasize the Jewish roots of our Eucharist. In the Gospel Jesus asked his disciples to prepare the Passover meal where he would give them his body and blood as food.