GOOD NEWS OF THE DAY : Saturday - May 07, 2022

  

Saturday - May 07, 2022

"Even while living in the world, the heart of Mary was so filled with motherly tenderness and compassion for men that no-one ever suffered so much for their own pains, as Mary suffered for the pains of her children."

 

- Saint Jerome

May 7, 2022

 

SATURDAY OF THE THIRD WEEK OF EASTER

Lectionary: 278

 

Reading I     

                                                                                    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.

 

Responsorial Psalm                                  116:12-13, 14-15, 16-17

 

R.        (12) How shall I make a return to the Lord for all the good he has done for me?

 

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?

 

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?

 

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?

 

Alleluia                                              Phil 2:8          Jn 6:56

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life;

you have the words of everlasting life.

R. Alleluia

 

Gospel                                                           Jn 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 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.”

**********************************

The Profound Teaching of the Holy Eucharist

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.”  John 6:66-68

 

What a perfect response from Peter.  The context of this story is quite fascinating and revealing.  Jesus had just completed His beautiful and profound discourse on the Holy Eucharist stating clearly that His flesh is real food and His blood is real drink and that unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood you have no life in you. 

 

As a result of His teaching on the Eucharist there were many who “returned to their former way of life and no longer walked with Him.”  In other words, Jesus’ teaching on the Eucharist was difficult for many to accept and believe.

 

Interestingly, after Jesus speaks this profound teaching on the Eucharist, and after many leave Him as a result, He does not backpedal or change what He said.  Instead, He asks His Apostles if they wish to leave also.

 

This question by Jesus to the Apostles is important to understand.  By asking it of them in a very direct way, Jesus is giving them complete freedom to choose.  He does not pressure them to believe what He just taught.  This is significant because the level of detachment that Jesus offers is a way of inviting a completely free acceptance, on the part of the Apostles, of His glorious teaching on the Eucharist.  They are truly free to accept or reject it.  It is this freedom that allows them to radically deepen their faith in Jesus.

 

Peter speaks up and gives a wonderful response.  “Master, to whom shall we go?”  These words of Peter reveal clearly two things.  First, this was a difficult situation in that people were walking away from Jesus.  But secondly, Peter and the other Apostles were aware that they must believe despite the difficulty.  Just because many left Jesus and refused to accept His words was no reason for the Apostles to leave Him, also.  In fact, we can hear in Peter’s words a manifestation of faith that they have come to believe in Jesus so completely that leaving Him would be utter foolishness.  Where would they go?  Why would they leave?  Peter reaffirms his faith in Jesus even though following Him at that moment was not the “popular” thing to do.

 

Reflect, today, upon your own level of commitment to Jesus.  Know that you are completely free to follow Him or to leave Him.  But if you choose to follow Him, do not do it half way.  Know that Jesus’ words are powerful, challenging and demanding.  He wants you to believe in Him and follow Him with your whole heart and with profound commitment.  Jesus alone has the words of eternal life and we must accept and believe those words with all our might.

 

Lord, to whom else shall I go if I do not follow You?  You and You alone are the one whom I choose to believe in and follow.  Help me to embrace all that You have taught and help me to freely choose You each and every day of my life.  Jesus, I trust in You. 

 

God Bless You.....

The Rosary Family

The mother of Jesus promised St. Dominic that, “one day through the rosary & the scapular I shall save the world!”