The Feast of St Catherine of Siena, Virgin and Doctor of the Church.

Do you also want to leave?

"Many of the disciples of Jesus who were listening said, “This saying is hard; who can accept it?”

"Since Jesus knew that his disciples were murmuring about this, he said to them,

“Does this shock you? What if you were to see the Son of Man ascending to where he was before?

"It is the Spirit that gives life, while the flesh is of no avail. The words I have spoken to you are Spirit and life.

"But there are some of you who do not believe.”

"Jesus knew from the beginning the ones who would not believe and the one who would betray him. And he said, 

“For this reason I have told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted him by my Father.”

"As a result of this, many of his disciples returned to their former way of life and no longer walked with him.

"Jesus then said to the Twelve, “Do you also want to leave?” 

"Simon Peter answered him, “Master, to whom shall we go?

"You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and are convinced that you are the Holy One of God.” (John 6: 60 - 69).

Saturday 29th April 2023 in the 3rd Week in Easter is the feast of St Catherine of Siena.  A giant of the faith: St Catherine of Siena (1347 - 1380). Italian Dominican Tertiary. Virgin and Doctor of the Church.

God set St Catherine on fire with divine love and boldness in the service of the Church. And Catherine set the Church on fire with her zeal and service.

"Be who you were created to be, and you will set the world on fire." St Catherine of Siena said and lived this maxim. 

Let us note that St Catherine of Siena had no formal education.

"Blessed are you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, for revealing the mysteries of the kingdom to mere children." (Matthew 11: 25).

"Jesus then said to the Twelve, “Do you also want to leave?”  Simon Peter answered him, “Master, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.  We have come to believe and are convinced that you are the Holy One of God.”

Those who did not abandon Jesus over His teachings on the Bread of life must know and believe that without Jesus, we can do absolutely nothing. Not a little. But nothing. I like the way Jesus put this in His locution to a Benedictine monk:

"Outside of Me there is nothing for you, and with Me, in My presence, is all that your heart desires.  Do not look outside of Me for anything to fulfil your heart’s desires. Instead, hide yourself in Me, as I hide myself for love of you in the Most Holy Sacrament of the Altar." (IN SINU JESU, Tuesday, September 20, 2011).

Do you nurse some hope that this world will fulfill the desires of your heart with regard to health, family, job, money and social and material possessions? Forget it.

Let us repeat with Peter in deep faith: “Master, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.  We have come to believe and are convinced that you are the Holy One of God.”

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com