Daily Readings - Sat May 07 2022
Acts
31So the church throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria had peace and was being built up. And walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, it multiplied.32Now as Peter went here and there among them all, he came down also to the saints who lived at Lydda.33There he found a man named Aeneas, bedridden for eight years, who was paralyzed.34And Peter said to him, "Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you; rise and make your bed." And immediately he rose.35And all the residents of Lydda and Sharon saw him, and they turned to the Lord.36Now there was in Joppa a disciple named Tabitha, which, translated, means Dorcas. She was full of good works and acts of charity.37In those days she became ill and died, and when they had washed her, they laid her in an upper room.38Since Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples, hearing that Peter was there, sent two men to him, urging him, "Please come to us without delay."39So Peter rose and went with them. And when he arrived, they took him to the upper room. All the widows stood beside him weeping and showing tunics and other garments that Dorcas made while she was with them.40But Peter put them all outside, and knelt down and prayed; and turning to the body he said, "Tabitha, arise." And she opened her eyes, and when she saw Peter she sat up.41And he gave her his hand and raised her up. Then calling the saints and widows, he presented her alive.42And it became known throughout all Joppa, and many believed in the Lord.
John
53So Jesus said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you.60When many of his disciples heard it, they said, "This is a hard saying; who can listen to it?"61But Jesus, knowing in himself that his disciples were grumbling about this, said to them, "Do you take offense at this?62Then what if you were to see the Son of Man ascending to where he was before?63It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is of no avail. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life.64But there are some of you who do not believe." (For Jesus knew from the beginning who those were who did not believe, and who it was who would betray him.)65And he said, "This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted him by the Father."66After this many of his disciples turned back and no longer walked with him.67So Jesus said to the Twelve, "Do you want to go away as well?"68Simon Peter answered him, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life,69and we have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God."
Sermon
The readings today remind us of the power of faith and the transformative grace of God in our lives. In the first reading from Acts, we see Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, performing miracles that bring healing and new life to those around him. Aeneas, paralyzed for eight years, is healed through Peter’s faith, and Tabitha, a disciple known for her kindness and generosity, is raised from the dead. These miracles not only demonstrate God’s power but also highlight the impact of faith and compassion in the early Christian community. The people’s response—conversion and belief in the Lord—shows how acts of love and faith can draw others to God.
In the Gospel, Jesus challenges His disciples with a difficult teaching: that His flesh and blood are the source of eternal life. Many find this teaching hard to accept and walk away, but Peter, speaking for the Twelve, professes unwavering faith in Jesus as the Son of God. This exchange emphasizes the importance of trusting in God’s word, even when it is difficult to understand or accept. Jesus reminds us that true faith is a gift from the Father and that His words are spirit and life.
These readings invite us to reflect on our own faith and how it shapes our lives. Like Peter, we are called to trust in God’s power and to live out our faith through acts of love and service. Like the disciples, we may face moments of doubt or confusion, but we are reminded that true faith perseveres and deepens our relationship with God. Let us ask for the grace to embrace God’s word fully, even when it challenges us, and to live as witnesses of His love in the world.