Daily Readings - Sat May 07 2022
Acts
31Then the church throughout Judea, Galilee and Samaria enjoyed a time of peace. It was strengthened; and encouraged by the Holy Spirit, it grew in numbers, living in the fear of the Lord.32As Peter traveled about the country, he went to visit the saints in Lydda.33There he found a man named Aeneas, a paralytic who had been bedridden for eight years.34"Aeneas," Peter said to him, "Jesus Christ heals you. Get up and take care of your mat." Immediately Aeneas got up.35All those who lived in Lydda and Sharon saw him and turned to the Lord.36In Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha (which, when translated, is Dorcas ), who was always doing good and helping the poor.37About that time she became sick and died, and her body was washed and placed in an upstairs room.38Lydda was near Joppa; so when the disciples heard that Peter was in Lydda, they sent two men to him and urged him, "Please come at once!"39Peter went with them, and when he arrived he was taken upstairs to the room. All the widows stood around him, crying and showing him the robes and other clothing that Dorcas had made while she was still with them.40Peter sent them all out of the room; then he got down on his knees and prayed. Turning toward the dead woman, he said, "Tabitha, get up." She opened her eyes, and seeing Peter she sat up.41He took her by the hand and helped her to her feet. Then he called the believers and the widows and presented her to them alive.42This became known all over Joppa, and many people believed in the Lord.
John
53Jesus said to them, "I tell you the truth, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you.60On hearing it, many of his disciples said, "This is a hard teaching. Who can accept it?"61Aware that his disciples were grumbling about this, Jesus said to them, "Does this offend you?62What if you see the Son of Man ascend to where he was before!63The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you are spirit and they are life.64Yet there are some of you who do not believe." For Jesus had known from the beginning which of them did not believe and who would betray him.65He went on to say, "This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless the Father has enabled him."66From this time many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed him.67"You do not want to leave too, do you?" Jesus asked the Twelve.68Simon Peter answered him, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.69We believe and 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.