Saturday of the Third Week of Easter (2)

Title

The Double-Edged Power of God

Outline

We often long for times when the power of God is evident

The power of evil is often evident

The power of God is always present, but it often needs events to make it evident

And when the power and truth of God is present, it can both turn folks away from Christ and draw folk to him, for it reveals truth.

In Acts the power of God is in evidence

Saul the persecutor had been converted and then sent away from Jerusalem when he started to get into the trouble Stephen got into. So there was peace

Herod had not yet chosen to attack the Galilean Apostles, so that storm was only on the distant horizon.

Peter therefore had time to travel down to the coastal plane and to build up the communities there, which were probably formed of people who had been converted in Jerusalem.

God saw fit to work healings through Peter as he had through Jesus and would through Paul.

In Lydda and again in nearby Joppa a person was healed, a paralyzed man in Lydda (not necessarily a Jesus-follower) and a deceased pious woman in Joppa (where Peter seems to have to pray to ask God what to do). In both cases there was widespread evangelistic turning to God, which was also the case in most of Jesus’ healings.

God’s power is usually evident in situations in which it makes people open to God’s truth, as was true in the healings Jesus worked.

In John God’s power has been evident, but people still turn away from God’s truth

Jesus has fed the 5000 the day before.

Jesus has miraculously gotten across the lake to Capernaum.

The people want to be able to work “the works of God” by which they meant similar miracles.

Jesus presents commitment to him as the true work of God, pointing out that it is necessary to eat his flesh and drink his blood (a term with a double meaning) so as to live in him and he in us.

Woah, that is hard to accept, say many disciples.

Jesus simply responds that the Spirit gives live and that not recognizing the life-giving words of the Spirit simply shows who does and does not have true commitment.

When many of his disciples (note, not the curious, but disciples) leave, Jesus asks the Twelve if they will leave and this elicits Peter’s confessions in John: “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life; and we have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God.”

While Jesus modifies Peter’s speaking for all, knowing Judas will betray him, it does show commitment: “We many not “get it” either, but there is nowhere else to go. You have the “words of eternal life” for you “are the Holy One of God.”

In other words, it takes more than miracles to create true converts and build up the Church, for Judas had seen all that the other Eleven had seen and more than most disciples who had departed had seen. It takes the Spirit or, to put it another way, it takes its “being granted to him by the Father.”

What might this say to us, Sisters?

First, be thankful for times of quiet and peace, for we need consolidation and we need rest. Utilize them well.

Second, be thankful and unsurprised when God sends healings and other miracles, for they are one way that the Spirit frees people from their former world view and makes them open to God’s truth.

But, third, be full of prayer and full of listening to God rather than always seeking miracles, for God’s miracles and God’s truth can also turn people away from Jesus unless God grants it to the Spirit to speak the truth into their hearts.

It other words, conversion is a work of the Trinitarian God in the heart of an individual, sometimes using openly evident means and sometimes not. Our hope and expectation must be in God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, not in any means, natural or supernatural. It is God who brings about transformation.

Readings

Catholic Daily Readings 5-7-2022: Saturday of the Third Week of Easter

FIRST READING

Acts 9:31–42

31 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.

32 As Peter was passing through every region, he went down to the holy ones living in Lydda. 33 There he found a man named Aeneas, who had been confined to bed for eight years, for he was paralyzed. 34 Peter said to him, “Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you. Get up and make your bed.” He got up at once. 35 And all the inhabitants of Lydda and Sharon saw him, and they turned to the Lord.

36 Now in Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha (which translated means Dorcas). She was completely occupied with good deeds and almsgiving. 37 Now during those days she fell sick and died, so after washing her, they laid [her] out in a room upstairs. 38 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.” 39 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. 40 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. 41 He gave her his hand and raised her up, and when he had called the holy ones and the widows, he presented her alive. 42 This became known all over Joppa, and many came to believe in the Lord.

Catholic Daily Readings 5-7-2022: Saturday of the Third Week of Easter

RESPONSE

Psalm 116:12

12 How can I repay the LORD

for all the great good done for me?

PSALM

Psalm 116:12–17

12 How can I repay the LORD

for all the great good done for me?

13 I will raise the cup of salvation

and call on the name of the LORD.

14 I will pay my vows to the LORD

in the presence of all his people.

15 Dear in the eyes of the LORD

is the death of his devoted.

16 LORD, I am your servant,

your servant, the child of your maidservant;

you have loosed my bonds.

17 I will offer a sacrifice of praise

and call on the name of the LORD.

Catholic Daily Readings 5-7-2022: Saturday of the Third Week of Easter

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

John 6:63c, 68c

63 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.

68 Simon Peter answered him, “Master, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.

GOSPEL

John 6:60–69

60 Then many of his disciples who were listening said, “This saying is hard; who can accept it?” 61 Since Jesus knew that his disciples were murmuring about this, he said to them, “Does this shock you? 62 What if you were to see the Son of Man ascending to where he was before? 63 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. 64 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. 65 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.”

66 As a result of this, many [of] his disciples returned to their former way of life and no longer accompanied him. 67 Jesus then said to the Twelve, “Do you also want to leave?” 68 Simon Peter answered him, “Master, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. 69 We have come to believe and are convinced that you are the Holy One of God.”

Notes

Catholic Daily Readings 5-7-2022: Saturday of the Third Week of Easter

SATURDAY, MAY 7, 2022 | EASTER

SATURDAY OF THE THIRD WEEK OF EASTER

YEARS 1 & 2 | ROMAN MISSAL | LECTIONARY

First Reading Acts 9:31–42

Response Psalm 116:12

Psalm Psalm 116:12–17

Gospel Acclamation John 6:63c, 68c

Gospel John 6:60–69

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