In today’s Apostolic Age, the pursuit of essential faith is crucial. The disciplined pursuit of these essentials, similar to athletes’ dedication, is vital for spiritual growth. Trusting the process, like athlete Joel Embiid’s journey, is necessary. Developing a Rule of Life, like a vine’s trellis, provides structure for spiritual growth and a focus on essentials, leading to fruitful discipleship.

In living our faith, the essentials are key. And even though that sounds like a “duh” statement, do we really focus on the essentials in our day-to-day living out of our faith? Is the faith even the essential part of life?

In today’s reading, Paul encourages us to imitate God and live our faith with focus and discipline, much like athletes training for the Olympics. He emphasizes the need for a methodical approach to imitating Jesus and challenges us to pursue a crown that lasts forever. The goal is to prioritize imitating Jesus in our lives.

This Sunday’s Gospel reading from John 6 introduces the “Bread of Life Discourse,” setting the stage for five weeks of reflection on the Eucharist. The passage emphasizes the deeper, unfulfilled human need for happiness and lasting peace. And Jesus then makes some radical claims: not only does he respond to this, but also provides an unexpected and profound response to this longing.

Do we recognize our role as participants in the work of the Good Shepherd? It is one thing to take comfort in the fact that Jesus is our Good Shepherd. But do I take seriously my role as shepherd in the lives of those around me, especially my children?

The Gospel challenges us to embrace the mission of Jesus Christ. This mission requires us to shift our focus from ourselves to living for Him. Just like the Twelve disciples, we are called to develop a deep and authentic relationship with Jesus before participating in His mission. This relationship demands time, priority, and seeking forgiveness.

In 2020, chaos and uncertainty disrupted our lives, challenging our belief in control. The disciples’ fear at sea mirrors our lack of faith. We must trust in God amidst crisis and choose faith over fear.