Daily Readings - Sat May 02 2020
Acts
31Certainly, the Church had peace throughout all of Judea and Galilee and Samaria, and it was being built up, while walking in the fear of the Lord, and it was being filled with the consolation of the Holy Spirit32Then it happened that Peter, as he traveled around everywhere, came to the saints who were living at Lydda33But he found there a certain man, named Aeneas, who was a paralytic, who had lain in bed for eight years34And Peter said to him: "Aeneas, the Lord Jesus Christ heals you. Rise up and arrange your bed." And immediately he rose up35And all who were living in Lydda and Sharon saw him, and they were converted to the Lord36Now in Joppa there was a certain disciple named Tabitha, which in translation is called Dorcas. She was filled with the good works and almsgiving that she was accomplishing37And it happened that, in those days, she became ill and died. And when they had washed her, they laid her in an upper room38Now since Lydda was close to Joppa, the disciples, upon hearing that Peter was there, sent two men to him, asking him: "Do not be slow in coming to us.39Then Peter, rising up, went with them. And when he had arrived, they led him to an upper room. And all the widows were standing around him, weeping and showing him the tunics and garments that Dorcas had made for them40And when they had all been sent outside, Peter, kneeling down, prayed. And turning to the body, he said: "Tabitha, arise." And she opened her eyes and, upon seeing Peter, sat up again41And offering her his hand, he lifted her up. And when he had called in the saints and the widows, he presented her alive42Now this became known throughout all of Joppa. And many believed in the Lord
John
53And so, Jesus said to them: "Amen, amen, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of man and drink his blood, you will not have life in you60Therefore, many of his disciples, upon hearing this, said: "This saying is difficult," and, "Who is able to listen to it?61But Jesus, knowing within himself that his disciples were murmuring about this, said to them: "Does this offend you62Then what if you were to see the Son of man ascending to where he was before63It is the Spirit who gives life. The flesh does not offer anything of benefit. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life64But there are some among you who do not believe." For Jesus knew from the beginning who were unbelieving and which one would betray him65And so he said, "For this reason, I said to you that no one is able to come to me, unless it has been given to him by my Father.66After this, many of his disciples went back, and they no longer walked with him67Therefore, Jesus said to the twelve, "Do you also want to go away?68Then Simon Peter answered him: "Lord, to whom would we go? You have the words of eternal life69And we have believed, and we recognize that you are the Christ, the Son of God.
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter powerful narratives that highlight the transformative power of faith and the divine presence in our lives. The first reading from Acts recounts two miracles performed by Peter—healing the paralytic Aeneas and raising Dorcas from the dead. These miracles not only demonstrate the Holy Spirit's active role in the early Church but also show how faith can lead to extraordinary acts of healing and conversion. The second reading from John presents a pivotal moment in Jesus' ministry, where He explains the necessity of partaking in His flesh and blood for eternal life. This teaching divides the crowd, leading some disciples to leave, yet Peter's unwavering confession underscores the commitment required to follow Christ.
The context of these readings is crucial. Acts depicts the early Church's growth, with Peter as a key figure embodying the faith and power of the Holy Spirit. John's Gospel, set during Jesus' ministry, captures a moment where His teachings challenge the disciples' understanding, testing their faith. Both readings, though from different periods, share a common theme: the role of faith in action and commitment. Peter's miracles in Acts are a direct result of his faith, while in John, the disciples' faith is tested by Jesus' challenging words.
Applying these lessons to our daily lives, we are reminded to trust in God's power and remain open to the Holy Spirit's guidance. Just as Peter trusted God to perform miracles, we can trust Him in our own challenges. The disciples' experience in John teaches us that faith requires commitment, even when teachings are difficult. Our moral takeaway is that faith is not just belief but also surrender and trust. It is through this faith that we experience God's power and grow in our relationship with Him, standing firm even in the face of adversity.