A prominent theme in the Scripture readings this week is the “great wonders and signs” that were being done in the early Church.

Stephen “was working great wonders and signs among the people.” People paid attention to the preaching of Philip “when they heard it and saw the signs he was doing.” Peter healed a man (Aeneas) who had been confined to bed for eight years and raised a woman (Tabitha) from the dead.

The main thing we’re supposed to take from all of these, however, is not amazement at the wonders themselves. The main point is to help us see that they happen because the life of Jesus is at work inside His disciples. The wonders are signs of that deeper reality.

We celebrate the feast of St. Mark the Evangelist this week on April 25. Why is that important? Because St. Mark’s contribution to the early Church wasn’t great signs and wonders. He basically recorded and then arranged the preaching of St. Peter. That’s where the Gospel of Mark comes from. (And that’s the reason it’s considered “apostolic” even though Mark himself wasn’t an apostle.)

That can be a consolation when we look at our own lives and think, “No great wonders or signs here. Feels like my contribution to the Church is pretty unglamorous.” Mark’s work probably seemed unglamorous, too. He was just recording and arranging someone else’s material! But that unglamorous work made a lasting contribution to the Church. So can ours.

Let me ask this question: What’s the most precious part of your day — the part you most look forward to, the part that, if you have your choice, is your first priority, and other things get moved to make room for it?

And let me ask this follow-up question: Is your answer the one you want to give at the moment of your death? Is it the primary thing you would want to be remembered at your funeral? “One thing Tom always made sure of: that he had time to golf.” “One thing Susan always made sure of: that her retirement account was on target.”

You see, great wonders and signs are not required of us. What is required, however, is that we accept and foster the life of Jesus in ourselves. And that’s the other major theme in this week’s readings: Jesus offers us His own life — eternal life — in the Eucharist, and we’re free to accept that life or refuse it.

Jesus says, “Do not work for food that perishes, but for food that endures for eternal life.” That’s a warning: Be careful about what you make your top priority in life! Make sure it’s something that lasts forever.

Jesus also says, “I am the living bread that came down from heaven; whoever eats this bread will live forever.” That’s an invitation: He offers us something that lasts forever. But He offers it as a marriage proposal; we’re free to turn Him down. Some did in His own day. Some do today.

If we stay with Jesus, we’ll receive the greatest wonder of all: eternal life!

The question is: Do we make that the most precious part of our lives?