Fr. Bob
Legend has it that as an old man the apostle John’s message to people always ended with, “Love one another.” The word love is mentioned nine times in today’s second reading from John 4:7-10 and ten times in today’s Gospel from John 15. With this root command of love one another in mind I’ve heard it put this way. At the end of our lives the only thing that will really matter is, “Was your heart with God and how much did you love?” So, the question. “If my life were to be over today, what would I wish I’d done more of? At the masses last night and at the earlier mass this morning we had a total of 42 kids received their First Communion. Now parents just think. Approximately ten years ago in 2014 your son or daughter who’s here today, was receiving their First Communion. And today at the 10:45 mass we honor them as high school graduates. Congratulations to the grads and to the parents. Nice job getting them there. At the first Communion masses I told the kids that my prayer for them was that their first Communion be the start of a journey with Jeus that stays with them the rest of their lives. And that’s my that prayer for you graduates and for all of us here today. Life is short and it goes fast. So, no matter where you are on your journey keep open to the path that leads you to Jesus and you will not be disappointed. When we stay faithful to that journey at the end of our lives we’ll have no regrets, only is a peace that tells us that despite all the ways we think we failed, that our life, the life that God gave us wasn’t wasted after all but counted for something beautiful, for God and for those who knew you. So, at the end of our lives what is the only thing that will really matter? What will matter is if our heart with God and how much did we love. So, the question, if your life were over today what would you wish you had done more of? But the good news is this. Like these graduates here today who have their whole life in front of them with God’s help it’s not too late to make the changes we want to make. And if you want you we can do it starting today.
