Third Week of Easter
29th April 2023 (Saturday) Readings and Reflection
Reading of the Day
First Reading: Acts 9:31-42
31 So 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. 32 Now as Peter went here and there among them all, he came down also to the saints who lived at Lydda. 33 There he found a man named Aeneas, bedridden for eight years, who was paralyzed. 34 And Peter said to him, “Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you; rise and make your bed.” And immediately he rose. 35 And all the residents of Lydda and Sharon saw him, and they turned to the Lord. 36 Now there was in Joppa a disciple named Tabitha, which, translated, means Dorcas. She was full of good works and acts of charity. 37 In those days she became ill and died, and when they had washed her, they laid her in an upper room. 38 Since Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples, hearing that Peter was there, sent two men to him, urging him, “Please come to us without delay.” 39 So 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. 40 But 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. 41 And he gave her his hand and raised her up. Then, calling the saints and widows, he presented her alive. 42 And it became known throughout all Joppa, and many believed in the Lord.
Psalm 117:1bc, 2
R/. Go into all the world, and proclaim the Gospel Or: Alleluia.
Gospel : John 6:60-69
60 When many of his disciples heard it, they said, “This is a hard saying; who can listen to it?” 61 But Jesus, knowing in himself that his disciples were grumbling about this, said to them, “Do you take offense at this? 62 Then what if you were to see the Son of Man ascending to where he was before? 63 It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is no help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life. 64 But 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.) 65 And he said, “This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted him by the Father.” 66 After this many of his disciples turned back and no longer walked with him. 67 So Jesus said to the twelve, “Do you want to go away as well?” 68 Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life, 69 and we have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God.”
Daily Gospel Reflection
The Reflection by Fr. Thumma Mariadas Reddy MSFS{alertWarning}
Main Theme: To whom shall we go?
Indicative: The teachings and the way of the Lord are hard and difficult to understand, accept and follow. But to those who are loyal to him, his graces are abundant{alertSuccess}
1. God’s mission continues. In the first reading, we see it in the ministry of Peter and Co. In the gospel, it is in the ministry of Jesus. It comprises essentially two components: preaching and healing. This mission always evokes two kinds of responses, the negative and the positive
2. The Eucharistic teaching of Jesus calling to eat his body and drink his blood was equivalent to crude cannibalism. So, it was hard to digest. But Jesus would not budge on it. Consequently many forsake him and turn away from him, saying, “This is a hard saying. Who can accept it?”
3. These are the people with negative response and approach. They expect lighter and easier things in life. They are not prepared to delve deeper into the mysteries of God. They operate in the realm of the flesh.
4. In the face of any such hard teaching and challenge, they quickly abandon and go away. They return to their former way of life. They no longer walk with him.
5. On the other hand, even amidst such unclear teaching and abandonment by many, the apostles show a positive response. They profess their unwavering and unshaken faith in the Lord: “To whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life”.
6. They are at peace. They were being built up and walked in the fear of the Lord. They experienced the consolation of the Holy Spirit. And they grew in numbers. The Lord accompanied and sustained and confirmed their ministry through signs and miracles.
7. Thus we see Peter healing Aeneas, paralysed for eight years, and resuscitating Tabita.
Imperative: Our mission may be challenging and discouraging as well but we need not lose heart. The Lord will confirm our ministry through His powerful Spirit by a witnessing life{alertSuccess}