April 22, 2026

By Father William Muench
NCC columnist

Recently, I did the baptism of an infant child. That was a big deal for me. As a retired priest, I do not celebrate many baptisms. It was a very special opportunity for me to join with this young family and baptize their infant daughter. Baptism is a very important moment for a family.

Now this is the Easter Season. Our Church celebrates new life as we celebrate the Lord’s Resurrection. At Easter time, we also celebrate our own baptism. It was a time for us, it was a time of new life. Recently, at the Easter Sunday Mass, we all renewed our baptismal promises.

During the Easter Season, the Scripture readings, especially at the daily Masses, are organized by theme. Each week, there is a special theme to remind us of Jesus’ message. Recently, during the Second Week of Easter, the Gospel readings at the daily Masses were all from St. John’s Gospel, Chapter 3 – our way of becoming a part of the Kingdom of God. John 3 is the story of Nicodemus, a Pharisee who comes to Jesus seeking his message of salvation. Jesus tells him, “Amen, amen, I say to you, no one can enter the Kingdom of God without being born again from above.” Nicodemus is confused. He wonders how anyone can be born again. Jesus explains, “Amen, amen, I say to you, no one can enter the Kingdom of God without being born of water and the Spirit.”

Jesus then teaches Nicodemus his importance as the Son of God. Jesus reminds Nicodemus of a Moses story. Moses has led the Hebrew people out of Egypt going to the Promised Land. In the desert the people are besieged by serpents. Moses turns to God, who instructs him to make a bronze serpent. When someone is attacked by a serpent, God tells them they should look on the bronze serpent and they will be healed. Jesus goes on to tell him that the Son of Man must be lifted up also – we know he speaks of the cross – that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life. Jesus continues, “For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him.”

In the same way, during the third week of the Easter Season, the Gospel readings at the daily Masses are from John 6. This is that very important Chapter of Jesus’ Discourse on the Bread of Life. This chapter begins with Jesus feeding a crowd with a few loaves of bread – this was the Multiplication of the Loaves. The people come to Jesus wanting him to continue to give them food. Jesus teaches them that the bread that comes from God always gives new life to the world. Jesus goes on to speaking in this way to us all, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never hunger, and whoever believes in me will never thirst.”

Jesus then explains to the people, “I am the bread that comes down from God.” We now realize that he explaining to them and us about the sacrament of the Blessed Eucharist. In faith, we realize that Jesus is present for us – in this powerful sacrament – to be united with us in Holy Communion. Jesus says this in John 6, “Amen, amen, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you do not have life in you.

The Gospel tells us that some disciples found this teaching of Jesus unacceptable; they refused to walk with Jesus. Peter and the other apostles, however, remained faithful with Jesus and believed him. They said to him, “Lord, where else shall we go, you have the words of eternal life.” Each time you and I participate in the Holy Mass – in the Eucharist – is our faith in the presence of the Lord strong and alive?