Homily for Thursday of the 3rd Week of Easter

Today's readings focus on the role of God's Word, Baptism, and Eucharist in nurturing the followers of Jesus. In the first reading, a pilgrim from Ethiopia, who had just returned from a pilgrimage to the Jerusalem temple, was moved by a passage in Isaiah and asked questions. This led to his Baptism into the Church by Philip. In the Gospel passage, Jesus promised to give bread for the life of the world, which refers to the Eucharist.

In most parishes, the usual sequence is Baptism, followed by the introduction to Jesus through the Gospels, Acts of the Apostles, St. Paul's letters, and Jewish Scriptures. This leads to the receiving of Holy Communion. The connection between the Word and the Eucharist remains strong for the baptized.

During Mass, there is first the Liturgy of the Word, which nourishes our faith, and then the Liturgy of the Eucharist, which we come to out of our nourished faith. The bread of the Word prepares us for the bread of the Eucharist.