Is He who He says He is?

Today we celebrate the Institution of the Eucharist and the Priesthood.

The Easter Triduum is upon us and I think over these next few days the question must be asked - Do we Believe He is who He says He is?

Do we truly believe that through Our Lord’s Passion, Death and Resurrection, we can come to have Eternal Life with Him?

And if we aren’t fully there yet, are we willing to honest, and seek that encounter?

In the Gospel of John, our writer shares his first encounter with Our Lord.

He even shares the time.

“It was about four in the afternoon.” John 1:39

I believe John mentions this because it’s a moment he can not forget, and the other apostles likewise.

Following that encounter, the apostles experience a lot with Jesus, and over time, they come to believe that He is who He said He is.

They came to believe the words of St. Peter after the Bread of Life discourse - “Where would we go Lord? You have the words of Eternal Life,” and His other statement, “I have come to believe that you are the Christ, the Son of the Living God.”

Bold proclamations.

And yet, when The Last Supper arrived, who was ready?

Jesus began as their teacher, but he ended up their closest friend, and it was too soon. Too soon to lose their best friend. Peter tried to stop it or delay it to the point of folly! "I will set up three tents!”

Three years wasn’t enough time to have their hearts completely changed, to be the people they knew they needed to be. Stay longer, Lord! Don’t leave us! We need you.

And you know what? He knew that we would also react the same way in our lives and so He gave us the Eucharist as a memorial of His suffering and death, providing us food for the journey!

He knew we’d need an outpouring of mercy throughout our lives! He instituted the Priesthood, using broken men to provide those great gifts, those great sacraments! His love for you and I is so great that in the words of St. Louis Marie de Montfort, “He went to the extent of changing and overturning nature itself!”

These next few days we will all witness love poured out so completely, a love that we can’t imagine or repay. My invitation to you and to myself is to dive into that. Dive into that mercy and love, and ask the question, “Do I believe He is who He says He is?”

Jesus, I believe, help my unbelief!