Peter proclaims

The evangelist, Luke, in the text from Acts of the Apostles in the Roman Catholic Lectionary today describes a peace which accompanied the growth of the Church in Judea, Galilee and Samaria. The journey of Peter through these regions is the occasion for the people to witness how the Apostles are fulfilling the mission of Jesus through signs of healing and the restoration of life. Friar Jude Winkler comments on the “Tabitha, rise up” spoken to the good lady of Joppa who is reanimated after the people seek out Peter as one who is performing the signs of Jesus. Dennis Hamm, S.J,.as he reflects on the trust and faith which mark believers in the intimate union that Jesus describes in the Bread of Life Discourse from the Gospel of John, restates the Vatican II proclamation that the participation in the physical meal of the Eucharist, is also the appropriation of the transformed reality of the risen Christ, in which we become what we consume, part of his risen body, the believing community. In this gift of the Bread of Life, Friar Jude comments that we become one flesh with Jesus. Jesus desires that we accept His offer of marriage. Peter voices the response of the beloved who is certain of perhaps of only one conclusion.”Master, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life” (John 6:69)