Seventh Sunday of Easter (First Communion) 2026

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When I was growing up, one of my favorite movies was Back to the Future.

Maybe some of you remember it.
 A teenager named Marty McFly accidentally travels back in time… and discovers that things people do in the past can affect people far into the future.
 A conversation… a decision… even one small action can change everything years later.

And every time I hear today’s Gospel, I think about that movie.

Because in today’s Gospel, Jesus is praying.
 But He’s not just praying for the apostles standing in front of Him.

In a mysterious and beautiful way… He’s praying for us.

Think about that for a moment.

Before this church existed…
 before our country existed…
 before any of us were born…
 Jesus had us in His heart.

And today, especially, He has these children in His heart as they receive their First Holy Communion.

That’s really what makes this Gospel so beautiful.

We are listening to Jesus speak to His Father just before His Passion and death.
 And what does He do in those final moments?

He prays for the people He loves.

“I pray for them.”

Not because they are perfect.
 Not because they understand everything.
 Not because they will never struggle.

He prays for them because they belong to Him.

And that includes us.

You know, sometimes people imagine God as distant.
 Far away.
 Too busy for us.
 Or disappointed in us.

But this Gospel gives us a completely different image.

Jesus is thinking about us.
 Jesus is loving us.
 Jesus is praying for us.

And today, these children are about to receive one of the greatest gifts He ever gave us: Himself in the Eucharist.

I think sometimes children understand something adults forget.

When a child receives their First Communion, they usually approach with wonder.
 With excitement.
 With openness.

They know something special is happening.

As adults, we can lose that sense of awe.
 We come to Mass so often that we forget how extraordinary this really is.

The same Jesus who prayed for His disciples…
 the same Jesus who gave His life on the Cross…
 the same Jesus who rose from the dead…
 comes to us in Holy Communion.

Not symbolically.
 Not as a memory.
 But truly present.

And today these children will receive Him for the very first time.

What a beautiful moment for them.
 And honestly, what a beautiful moment for all of us.

Because their joy reminds us of what we sometimes forget.

That Jesus still loves us.
 Jesus still calls us.
 Jesus still feeds us.
 And yes… Jesus still prays for us.

So today, before these children come forward to receive Holy Communion, I hope they remember this:

Long before they ever prayed to Jesus…
 Jesus was already praying for them.

And the same is true for every one of us here today.

Amen.

Location: Morrisonville, NY, USA

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