The Lord Truly Is With Us
The future Pope Leo XIV reminds us that God meets us in our weakness—and feeds us for the journey
We encounter the prophet Elijah. He feels tired. He feels like his mission has failed. He no longer wants to continue [1 Kgs 19:4–8].
In his prayer, after a full day in the desert, he says: “Enough, Lord! Take my life. I am no better than my ancestors.” He lies down under a broom tree and falls asleep.
Maybe he thought that was the end.
But, as we hear in the reading, the Lord never abandons us. Not only does He not abandon us—He often pushes us and says: “Get up! You must go on. I will not leave you alone. I will feed you. I will give you what you need to continue.”
In this case, the angel of the Lord came to Elijah, gave him bread, gave him nourishment, and said: “Eat, for the journey will be too much for you.”
And Elijah, attentive to the Lord’s word, ate, got up, and continued on his way.
In the Gospel, Jesus speaks more specifically about how He walks with us and nourishes us in life [Jn 6:50–51].
How beautiful it is that we are all here today, gathered around the altar, where the Lord feeds us with His Body and Blood in the Eucharist.
The Lord cares for us—not just with physical nourishment, but especially with spiritual nourishment.
That’s why, in chapter 6 of the Gospel of John, Jesus—hearing criticism—responds. And that too is a reality in our lives.
Who hasn’t heard mockery or criticism?
“Why do you go to Mass?”
“You’re wasting your time.”
“Why believe in God?”
“Why get involved in the parish?”
But Jesus calls us. And Jesus says: “I am the bread that came down from heaven.”
He offers us this bread for eternal life:
“This is the bread that comes down from heaven, so that one may eat of it and not die. I am the living bread that came down from heaven.”
In this message, we also find a word of great hope.
Because even when we are tired, when we are suffering, when we feel like the prophet Elijah and say: “Enough, Lord. I can’t go on,” the Lord comes to give us the strength we need.
He walks with us—sometimes even pushes us, lifts us up, and says: “Keep walking!”
And one of the ways He tells us to keep walking is precisely when we gather in community.
Alone, perhaps we can’t make it.
But if we are with our sisters and brothers, with friends, if we’ve learned to form a community where we find support, encouragement, and consolation, then we recognize—just as Jesus promised:
“Where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I in their midst.”
The Lord truly is with us.
— Pope Leo XIV (Robert Francis Prevost, O.S.A.)
Homily delivered in Chiclayo, Peru – 11 August 2024
Note: This is an excerpt from a homily delivered by Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, O.S.A., then Prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops, during a fraternal visit to the Diocese of Chiclayo, Peru, on Sunday, 11 August 2024. He was elected Pope Leo XIV on 8 May 2025.
⬦ Reflection Question ⬦
How has the Eucharist given me strength to keep walking when I’ve felt spiritually exhausted?
⬦ Join the conversation in the comments.
Source reference
Homily delivered by Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, O.S.A., Prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops, during a fraternal visit to the Diocese of Chiclayo, Peru, on Sunday, 11 August 2024.
Watch the full homily on YouTube
Featured image
Pope Leo XIV (Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, O.S.A.) greets the faithful from the central balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica following his election as Supreme Pontiff on 8 May 2025.
Image credit: Father Lawrence Lew, O.P. — used by permission