17 April 2027 · Latin Rite
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“Lord, to whom can we go? You have the words of eternal life.” John 6:68
After the storm, a calm. St Luke pauses to give a summary of the young Church: “Meanwhile the church throughout Judea, Galilee, and Samaria had peace and was built up. Living in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, it increased in numbers.” Saul has been converted; the persecution has eased; the Church breathes. Then Luke follows Peter as he goes “here and there among all the believers,” a shepherd visiting his flock. At Lydda, on the coastal plain, Peter finds Aeneas, “who had been bedridden for eight years, for he was paralyzed.” His words are brief and clear about who is acting: “Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you; get up and make your bed!” Peter claims nothing for himself. The man gets up, and the whole region of Lydda and Sharon turns to the Lord. In nearby Joppa a disciple named Tabitha, in Greek Dorcas, both names meaning “gazelle,” has died. Luke describes her in one beautiful line: she “was devoted to good works and acts of charity.” When Peter arrives, the widows stand around him weeping, “showing tunics and other clothing that Dorcas had made while she was with them.” Her charity speaks for her; the work of her hands is her eulogy. Peter sends everyone out, kneels and prays, then turns to the body: “Tabitha, get up.” In Aramaic his words are almost exactly the words Peter had heard Jesus say in the house of Jairus, “Talitha cum,” little girl, get up (Mark 5:41). Peter had been in that room; now he does what he saw his Master do. Tabitha opens her eyes and sits up; Peter gives her his hand. The Psalm sings our gratitude: “What shall I return to the LORD for all his bounty to me? I will lift up the cup of salvation,” and it reminds us that “precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his faithful ones.” The cup of salvation is lifted at every Mass.
In the Gospel the long discourse on the Bread of Life comes to its painful end. Many of the disciples say: “This teaching is difficult; who can accept it?” Jesus does not chase after them with an easier explanation. He asks: “Does this offend you? Then what if you were to see the Son of Man ascending to where he was before?” And he adds: “It is the spirit that gives life; the flesh is useless. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life.” Jesus is not taking back what he said about his flesh as true food; he is saying that merely human reasoning, “the flesh” in that sense, cannot grasp this gift. Only the Spirit gives the faith to receive it. The Catechism notes that the first announcement of the Eucharist divided the disciples, just as the announcement of the Passion scandalized them: the Eucharist and the Cross are stumbling blocks (Catechism 1336). “Because of this many of his disciples turned back and no longer went about with him.” Jesus lets them go rather than water down the truth. Then he turns to the Twelve with a question full of sorrow and freedom: “Do you also wish to go away?” And Simon Peter answers for all who have ever wanted to leave and stayed: “Lord, to whom can we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and know that you are the Holy One of God.” Peter does not say: we understand everything. He says: we know you. Faith is not first a solved problem but a trusted person. That same Peter, in today's first reading, raises the sick and the dead in the name of the Lord he refused to leave. Mary, the Mother of the Lord, is the first and most faithful of those who stayed; in this Easter season we greet her each day with joy: Queen of Heaven, rejoice, alleluia.
Theme: “Lord, to whom can we go? You have the words of eternal life.”
Healing in the name of Jesus, a life of charity raised up, and the faith that stays when others leave.
“the LORD opens the eyes of the blind. The LORD lifts up those who are bowed down; the LORD loves the righteous.” Psalm 146:8
“Peter said to him, “Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you; get up and make your bed!” And immediately he got up.” Acts 9:34
Apply: Visit or call one sick or housebound person this week, and pray with them in the name of Jesus.
“The LORD listened to the voice of Elijah; the life of the child came into him again, and he revived.” 1 Kings 17:22
“Peter put all of them outside, and then he knelt down and prayed. He turned to the body and said, “Tabitha, get up.” Then she opened her eyes, and seeing Peter, she sat up.” Acts 9:40
Apply: Make or mend something with your own hands for a poor family or a charitable home this week.
“Now if you are unwilling to serve the LORD, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served in the region beyond the River or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living; but as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD.” Joshua 24:15
“Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom can we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and know that you are the Holy One of God.”” John 6:68–69
Apply: Renew your faith before the tabernacle this week with Peter's words, especially if something in the faith is hard for you.
The risen Lord heals and raises up through the faith and prayer of his Church.
When the teaching is hard, we stay with Peter, because Jesus alone has the words of eternal life.
Take-home resolution: Do one hidden work of charity this week and pray Peter's words before the tabernacle.
Dear friends, after the persecution the Church had peace and grew in the comfort of the Holy Spirit (Acts 9:31). Peter went from place to place visiting the believers. At Lydda he met Aeneas, paralyzed for eight years, and said: Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you; get up (Acts 9:34). Not I heal you. Jesus Christ heals you.
At Joppa a good woman, Tabitha, had died. The widows showed Peter the clothes she had made for them. That was her whole life story: good works and acts of charity. Peter knelt and prayed and said: Tabitha, get up. And she opened her eyes (Acts 9:40). The risen Lord is still raising the dead to life.
In the Gospel many disciples said about the Eucharist: this teaching is difficult; who can accept it? (John 6:60). And they left. Jesus did not run after them to make it easier. He turned to the Twelve and asked: do you also wish to go away?
Peter answered with words we can make our own on the hardest days: Lord, to whom can we go? You have the words of eternal life (John 6:68). He did not say: we understand everything. He said: we know you. When faith is hard, let us not walk away. Let us stay with him, receive him, and ask him to give us the Spirit who gives life. Alleluia. Amen.
Children, Tabitha loved to sew clothes for poor people. Everyone loved her! When she died, Peter prayed and said: Tabitha, get up! And God gave her life again. Some people stopped following Jesus because his words were hard. But Peter said: Jesus, we will stay with you! Let us say it too: Jesus, I will always stay with you!
Lord Jesus, you healed Aeneas and raised Tabitha through the faith and prayer of Peter. When your words seem hard to us, keep us from turning back, give us your Spirit who gives life, and let us say with Peter and with all your faithful: Lord, to whom can we go? You have the words of eternal life. Amen. Alleluia.