The Unwavering Truth
|
| |
John 6: 60-69
Many of the disciples of Jesus 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."
Introductory Prayer: Lord, I believe that you are present here and now as I turn to you in prayer. I trust and
have confidence in your desire to give me every grace I need to receive today. Thank you for your love, thank
you for your immense generosity toward me. I give you my life and my love in return.
Petition: Lord, help me to embrace fully all that you have revealed.
1. Jesus Always Challenges Us. Many of the Jews would not accept that Jesus was one with the Father—
that he was God. For some, Christ’s divinity was a leap greater than they were ready to make. His message
had not yet penetrated into their hearts. So when he explained how he would give himself to them in the
Eucharist, they balked. The first act of faith (belief in his divinity) was crucial for them to be able to make the
second act of faith (belief in his Eucharistic presence). Each truth that Christ reveals about himself is
connected to other truths he wants to reveal about himself. If we don’t accept one, the others can become
difficult, too. Conversely, as we grow in our knowledge, faith, and love of Christ, other difficulties in our
spiritual life become easier.
2. Am I Another Peter or Judas? Christ’s invitation to accept his truth and his love is always just that: an
invitation. He doesn’t force himself on us. Each saving truth he presents is free to be accepted by us, or left
aside. But we are impoverished by rejecting any truth about Christ, since he is truth itself. It is the same with
each grace he offers us. After this discourse on the Eucharist, many of Christ’s disciples left and no longer
accompanied him. As he had invited them to follow him freely, so were they free to go. But would they be
able to share in the joy of his resurrection? Would they receive the fullness of life that he had promised
them? Would they find what their hearts needed and wanted most if they no longer walked with Christ? All
judgment is left to God’s mercy alone.
3. Peter already believed in Christ’s divinity. “We have come to believe and are convinced that you are the
Holy One of God.” Anything else Christ might teach or say Peter could accept, even if it was something he
couldn’t fully understand. Peter’s confidence and trust in Christ enabled him to cut to the chase: What could
he possibly gain by going anywhere else or to anyone else? Even if the path with Christ is strewn with
obscurity and great suffering—as it would be—what other direction could Peter possibly take that could be
better?
Conversation with Christ: Lord Jesus, I too have come to believe and am convinced that you are the Holy
One of God. How could I possibly find meaning and peace of soul anywhere except in you? Your words and
your presence in the Eucharist are life for my soul.
Resolution: Today I will accept any suffering that comes my way, confident that it is somehow part of God’s
loving plan.
= = = = = = =
The Catholic Calendar for Saturday, April 24, 2010
Saturday of the Third Week of Easter
St. Fidelis of Sigmaringen, priest and martyr
Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:
Acts 9:31-42
Psalm 116:12-13, 14-15, 16-17
John 6:60-69
A reflection on today's Sacred Scripture:
Does This Shock You? (John 6:61)
Those gathered around Jesus were, as usual, moaning and groaning about how difficult what He taught
was.
The response Jesus gave is almost humorous: "If you think that's difficult, just imagine how hard it would be
if you saw Me ascending into My rightful place."
We are often the same with Jesus, complaining about how hard His teaching is, how heavy the cross we
each have to bear is, how we could so much more easily bear the cross of that person across the street who
has bad feet -- but not the person with the bad back!
Jesus is using good psychological strategy here. To get one to stop complaining, to stop focusing on the
ever-present aches and pains of daily living, He asks us to think about how we would feel if we could be
present and witness His glorious ascent into Heaven. Would we be shocked? Yes! So shocked that we'd
probably not remember what Heaven was like even though we were blessed to see it.
So, the next time life has you down and you're feeling inclined to complain just a little, think about this: What if
I were to see Jesus ascending to where He once sat at the Father's right hand? What a thought! What a
challenge! What a way to bring ourselves out of our petty complaints and into the glory of His majesty!
Alleluia!
= = = = = = =
Meditation: Acts 9:31-42
Jesus Christ heals you. (Acts 9:34)
After Paul’s conversion, the church seems to have enjoyed a bit of a respite, a time of peace and calm.
Without one of its chief persecutors, it was able to grow in number as well as in the Spirit. If there were
newspapers back then, such dramatic growth would have probably made the headlines. Some pundits may
have even wondered what the world was coming to when a ragtag group of fishermen and tax collectors
could be hailed as miracle workers.
Peter would have answered such questions by proclaiming that his was a God of power and authority. By
healing a paralytic and raising a woman from the dead, he was pointing people to the risen Christ, in whose
name he performed all these wonders.
But Peter was not out for headlines. Yes, God used him to make his power known, but also to demonstrate
his care and concern for people. He used Peter to show the people how much he could do if they would just
turn their hearts to him.
God still wants to demonstrate these same wonders to the people of today. But we need to ask whether we
have lost some of our sense of expectation for these wonders. Do we think that the world has become too
dark for God to act in it? Do we think that God loves us less than he loved Peter and the others? Or do we
think that we are less deserving of God’s time and attention than the first believers?
How quick we are to complicate matters! Simply put, the church grew because God poured out his Holy
Spirit upon a thirsty people. It grew because a few people stood in awe of who God was and longed to see
him work in the world. They had a passion for evangelizing—and real expectations. They believed that God
would bring to completion what he had started in Jesus, and that he would use them to fulfill his plan. May
we have that same simple, trusting faith!
“Jesus, I believe that you want your church to grow in number and in power. Come and raise my
expectations. I want to see men and women healed. I believe that you can do all things. Come, Spirit, and
demonstrate your power, your love, and your compassion!”
Psalm 116:12-17; John 6:60-69
= = = = = = =
April 24, 2010
Saturday of the Third Week of Easter
Reading 1
Acts 9:31-42
The Church throughout all Judea, Galilee, and Samaria
was at peace.
She was being built up and walked in the fear of the Lord,
and with the consolation of the Holy Spirit she 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 is 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.
Ps 116:12-13, 14-15, 16-17
Responsorial Psalm
R. (12) How shall I make a return to the Lord for all the good he has done for me?
or:
R. Alleluia.
How shall I make a return to the LORD
for all the good he has done for me?
The cup of salvation I will take up,
and I will call upon the name of the LORD
R. How shall I make a return to the Lord for all the good he has done for me?
or:
R. Alleluia.
My vows to the LORD I will pay
in the presence of all his people.
Precious in the eyes of the LORD
is the death of his faithful ones.
R. How shall I make a return to the Lord for all the good he has done for me?
or:
R. Alleluia.
O LORD, I am your servant;
I am your servant, the son of your handmaid;
you have loosed my bonds.
To you will I offer sacrifice of thanksgiving,
and I will call upon the name of the LORD.
R. How shall I make a return to the Lord for all the good he has done for me?
or:
R. Alleluia.
Jn 6:60-69
Gospel
Many of the disciples of Jesus 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 walked with 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.”
|
| |
| |
|
