Friday, May 05, 2006
Saturday 3rd Week of Easter
May 6, 2006
Saturday 3rd Week of Easter - Yr II
ACTS 9:31-42
The church throughout all Judea, Galilee, and Samaria was at peace. It
was being built up and walked in the fear of the Lord, and with the
consolation of the holy Spirit it grew in numbers. As Peter was passing
through every region, he went down to the holy ones living in Lydda.
There he found a man named Aeneas, who had been confined to bed for
eight years, for he was paralyzed. Peter said to him, "Aeneas, Jesus
Christ heals you. Get up and make your bed." He got up at once. And all
the inhabitants of Lydda and Sharon saw him, and they turned to the
Lord. Now in Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha (which translated
means Dorcas). She was completely occupied with good deeds and
almsgiving. Now during those days she fell sick and died, so after
washing her, they laid (her) out in a room upstairs. Since Lydda was
near Joppa, the disciples, hearing that Peter was there, sent two men
to him with the request, "Please come to us without delay." So Peter
got up and went with them. When he arrived, they took him to the room
upstairs where all the widows came to him weeping and showing him the
tunics and cloaks that Dorcas had made while she was with them. Peter
sent them all out and knelt down and prayed. Then he turned to her body
and said, "Tabitha, rise up." She opened her eyes, saw Peter, and sat
up. He gave her his hand and raised her up, and when he had called the
holy ones and the widows, he presented her alive. This became known all
over Joppa, and many came to believe in the Lord.
JOHN 6:60-69
Then many of his disciples who were listening said, "This saying is
hard; who can accept it?" Since Jesus knew that his disciples were
murmuring about this, he said to them, "Does this shock you? What if
you were to see the Son of Man ascending to where he was before? It is
the spirit that gives life, while the flesh is of no avail. The words I
have spoken to you are spirit and life. But there are some of you who
do not believe." Jesus knew from the beginning the ones who would not
believe and the one who would betray him. And he said, "For this reason
I have told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted him by
my Father." As a result of this, many (of) his disciples returned to
their former way of life and no longer accompanied him. Jesus then said
to the Twelve, "Do you also want to leave?" Simon Peter answered him,
"Master, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We
have come to believe and are convinced that you are the Holy One of
God."
REFLECTION
With Paul's conversion, the Church in Jerusalem enters into a period of
peace. Luke points out that the Church continues to grow, but he's
thinking not so much of growth in numbers as of an interior growth.
This growth is the result of an increasing fear of the Lord; "fear"
meaning a loving respect, reverence, a sense of awe in the presence of
the Lord's love for the Church and of his power exercised on behalf of
the Church.
Luke narrates two experiences Peter had that indicated the Lord's love
for the Christian community and his power exercised on behalf of the
community. First, Peter cures Anaeas, a paralytic, and then in in
another town, Peter brings Tabitha back to life. These powerful
miracles, as one would expect, add many converts to the Christian
community.
Power, when it's exercised for the good of others, exerts a compelling
attraction on those who witness it. Through Christ's power Peter cured
the paralytic and bestowed life on the dead woman. It's not surprising
that these acts of power drew many to this new Way of Christ. And it's
not surprising that the early Church's reverence and awe for the Lord
God increased.
Christ draws us to join religious groups and organizations. As members
of these groups we can do things that none of us could do alone.
Christ's power in a group enables us to grow in sanctity and to reach
out to others, particularly to those in material or spiritual need.
Through Christ's power, exercised by us as members of a group, we will
experience within ourselves a deepening reverence and awe in the
presence of the Lord's love for the Church.
PRAYER REQUESTS
We pray ...
- for a deep and profound respect for life, especially for the unborn.
- for the speedy recovery of David. May the Holy Spirit guide his
doctors and caregivers.
- for all the prayer intentions in the MTQ Dailyprayer Diary.
- for world peace and reconciliation.
Finally, we pray for one another, for those who have asked our
prayers and for those who need our prayers the most.
Have a good day!
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� 2006 Daily-Homily
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