The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today invite us to contemplate the Divinity of Christ and the Word in which we hear of eternal life.
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| Life in the Spirit |
The reading from the Book of Acts describes healing by Peter in Lydda and Joppa.
* [9:31–43] In the context of the period of peace enjoyed by the community through the cessation of Paul’s activities against it, Luke introduces two traditions concerning the miraculous power exercised by Peter as he was making a tour of places where the Christian message had already been preached. The towns of Lydda, Sharon, and Joppa were populated by both Jews and Gentiles and their Christian communities may well have been mixed.1
The psalmist responds to divine rescue from mortal danger and from near despair.
* [Psalm 116] A thanksgiving in which the psalmist responds to divine rescue from mortal danger (Ps 116:3–4) and from near despair (Ps 116:10–11) with vows and Temple sacrifices (Ps 116:13–14, 17–19). The Greek and Latin versions divide the Psalm into two parts: Ps 116:1–9 and Ps 116:10–19, corresponding to its two major divisions.2
In the Gospel of John, Peter proclaims that Jesus has the Words of Eternal Life.
* [6:63] Spirit,flesh: probably not a reference to the eucharistic body of Jesus but to the supernatural and the natural, as in Jn 3:6. Spirit and life: all Jesus said about the bread of life is the revelation of the Spirit.3
Fr. George Corrigan, OFM, shares thoughts on the interpretation of John 6:63 in the context of the Bread of Life Discourse and the full Gospel of John.
Ronald Fussell comments that the cutting truth of this passage leads him to better understand those distractions in life that lead away from accepting the substance of Jesus’ teachings as revealed in the Gospel. Distractions of work, of the media, and politics prevail amid a context of an increasingly relativistic and pluralistic society. In many ways, we are just as distracted as Jesus’ followers of centuries past.
In today’s Gospel, when asked about whether he too wanted to leave, Simon Peter responded with a rhetorical question – “Master, to whom shall we go?” And so too we ask ourselves, to whom shall we go? It is my hope that as we discern this question in the silence of our hearts, our answer will lead us to a stronger relationship with Christ – expressed through our relationships with others – so that we may continue to set the world ablaze with the Glory of God’s love.4
Don Schwager quotes “Eat Life - Drink Life,” by Augustine of Hippo, 354-430 A.D.
"'Unless you eat My Flesh and drink My Blood, you shall not have life in you,' says the Lord. Eat life - drink life. You will then have life, and life is complete. Then the Body and Blood of Christ will be life for each person under this condition: what is eaten visibly in the Sacrament be spiritually eaten and spiritually drunk in truth itself." (excerpt from Sermon 102,2)5
The Word Among Us Meditation on John 6:60-69 comments that Jesus’ words are life-giving, but they can still be puzzling. But as we ask the Spirit to help us, they can start to make more sense.
Finally, Jesus says, “I am the bread of life” (John 6:35). Through the gift of himself in the Eucharist, his presence can become so much a part of us that it flows out of us. So how do we put flesh on that? We become aware that every time we encounter other people, they are encountering Jesus—whether they realize it or not.
How blessed we are! The words of Jesus have the power to change us and, through us, change our world.
“Come, Holy Spirit! Teach me the meaning of Jesus’ words and help me to say yes to him today.”6
Friar Jude Winkler notes the similarities of the healing ministry of Peter to that of Jesus. The Spirit provides inspiration to rise to the challenge of Jesus' words and avoid the murmuring of past generations. Friar Jude comments that the Evangelist presents Peter in an “almost” completely positive light.
A post from Franciscan Media about Saint Athanasius, Saint of the Day for May 2, outlines the determination of his fourth century bishop to defend the Divinity of Christ in the face of persecution and exile.
Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, prays we are finding support in this time, possibly from unexpected sources. It seems that it is only when what we are used to is taken away from us that we awaken to new possibilities, even if they were available all along.
The summary today can connect us with a large number of people with experience in liminal space, between the known and the unknown. The Spirit inspires our faith in our relationship with the Trinity, that offers us a share in the Life of Jesus in relationship with Father and Spirit.
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