Walking in the fear of the Lord and in the Comfort of the Holy Spirit (The testament of the Judea and Galilean Church)
In those days: The Church throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria had peace and was built up; and walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit it was multiplied. Now as Peter went here and there among them all, he came down also to the saints that lived at Lydda. There he found a man named Aeneas, who had been bedridden for eight years and was paralysed. And Peter said to him, "Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you; rise and make your bed." And immediately he rose. And all the residents of Lydda and Sharon saw him, and they turned to the Lord. Now there was at Joppa a disciple named Tabitha, which means Dorcas or Gazelle. She was full of good works and acts of charity. In those days she fell sick and died; and when they had washed her, they laid her in an upper room. Since Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples, hearing that Peter was there, sent two men to him entreating him, "Please come to us without delay." So Peter rose and went with them. And when he had come, they took him to the upper room. All the widows stood beside him weeping, and showing coats and garments which Dorcas made while she was with them. But Peter put them all outside and knelt down and prayed; then turning to the body he said, "Tabitha, rise." And she opened her eyes, and when she saw Peter she sat up. And he gave her his hand and lifted her up. Then calling the saints and widows he presented her alive. And it became known throughout all Joppa, and many believed in the Lord. (Acts 9:31-42)
Psalm 116:12-13, 14-15, 16-17
How can I repay the Lord for all his goodness to me?
How can I repay the Lord for all his goodness to me? The cup of salvation I will raise;
I will call on the name of the Lord.
My vows to the Lord I will fulfil before all his people.
How precious in the eyes of the Lord is the death of his faithful.
Your servant, Lord, your servant am l, the son of your handmaid; you have loosened my bonds. A thanksgiving sacrifice I make;
I will call on the name of the Lord.
Acclaim in your heart: Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life; you have the words of eternal life.
It is the Spirit that gives Life...To Whom shall we go?
At that time: Many of the disciples of Jesus said, "This is a hard saying; who can listen to it?" But Jesus, knowing in himself that his disciples murmured at it, said to them, "Do you take Offence at this? Then what if you were to see the Son of man ascending where he was before? It is the spirit that gives life, the flesh is of no avail; the words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life. But there are some of you that do not believe." For Jesus knew from the first who those were that did not believe, and who it was that would betray him. And he said, "This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted him by the Father." After this many of his disciples drew back and no longer walked with him. Jesus said to the Twelve, "Will you also go away?" Simon Peter answered him, "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." (John 6:60-69)
Reflection
While the Jews reacted negatively to the Eucharistic teaching of Jesus, some of his disciples too disagreed with this teaching and left his company because they could not accept the hard language of faith. Jesus responds with a question which could be interpreted to mean: When the Son of man ascends to the Father, your astonishment will disappear. Mere flesh, that is to say, human beings, without the animating Spirit, is of no avail. The words of Jesus are the words of God and the revelation of the Spirit of God. Just as the Word took on human flesh to unite himself with the human race, so the human race should eat his flesh to return to the Father who communicates life through him. This truth does not admit of any diluting; it demands total adherence.
"I believe in Christianity as I believe that the sun has risen: not only because I see it, but because by it I see everything else." C. S Lewis