Daily Readings - Sat May 11 2019

Acts

31Then had the churches rest throughout all Judaea and Galilee and Samaria, and were edified; and walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost, were multiplied.32And it came to pass, as Peter passed throughout all quarters, he came down also to the saints which dwelt at Lydda.33And there he found a certain man named Aeneas, which had kept his bed eight years, and was sick of the palsy.34And Peter said unto him, Aeneas, Jesus Christ maketh thee whole: arise, and make thy bed. And he arose immediately.35And all that dwelt at Lydda and Saron saw him, and turned to the Lord.36Now there was at Joppa a certain disciple named Tabitha, which by interpretation is called Dorcas: this woman was full of good works and almsdeeds which she did.37And it came to pass in those days, that she was sick, and died: whom when they had washed, they laid her in an upper chamber.38And forasmuch as Lydda was nigh to Joppa, and the disciples had heard that Peter was there, they sent unto him two men, desiring him that he would not delay to come to them.39Then Peter arose and went with them. When he was come, they brought him into the upper chamber: and all the widows stood by him weeping, and shewing the coats and garments which Dorcas made, while she was with them.40But Peter put them all forth, and kneeled down, and prayed; and turning him to the body said, Tabitha, arise. And she opened her eyes: and when she saw Peter, she sat up.41And he gave her his hand, and lifted her up, and when he had called the saints and widows, presented her alive.42And it was known throughout all Joppa; and many believed in the Lord.

John

53Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you.60Many therefore of his disciples, when they had heard this, said, This is an hard saying; who can hear it?61When Jesus knew in himself that his disciples murmured at it, he said unto them, Doth this offend you?62What and if ye shall see the Son of man ascend up where he was before?63It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.64But there are some of you that believe not. For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were that believed not, and who should betray him.65And he said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father.66From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him.67Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away?68Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life.69And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God.

Sermon

The readings today invite us to reflect on the power of faith, the work of the Holy Spirit, and the challenges of discipleship. In the First Reading from Acts, we see the early Church thriving under the guidance of the apostles. Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, performs two remarkable miracles: healing a paralytic man named Aeneas and raising Tabitha, a devout disciple, from the dead. These miracles demonstrate the continuation of Jesus' ministry through His followers and highlight the transformative power of faith. The people’s response—converting to the Lord and believing in His power—shows how God’s grace can touch hearts and change lives. In the Gospel, Jesus challenges His disciples with a difficult teaching: “Unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you will not have life in you.” Many find this teaching hard to accept, and some even walk away. Yet, in the midst of this challenge, Peter’s confession stands out: “Lord, to whom would we go? You have the words of eternal life.” Peter’s response reminds us that true discipleship requires trust and commitment, even when the path is unclear or difficult. Jesus’ words are not just about the Eucharist but also about the spiritual nourishment we receive from Him. The Holy Spirit, as Jesus explains, is the one who gives life, and His words are spirit and life. These readings call us to reflect on our own faith journey. Like the early Church, we are called to trust in God’s power and to allow the Holy Spirit to work through us. Like Peter, we are invited to remain faithful, even when the teachings of Christ challenge us. In our daily lives, we can apply these lessons by deepening our prayer, seeking the Holy Spirit’s guidance, and standing firm in our commitment to follow Jesus, even when the world around us may question or oppose our beliefs. Let us remember that the words of Christ are spirit and life, and let us allow them to transform us, just as they transformed Peter and the early Church.