Daily Video Reflections

06May
2020

Deacon Romolo shares a quick reflection on the daily readings for Wednesday, May 6, 2020

05May
2020

Daily Reflection for Tuesday, May 5, 2020

May 5, 2020

mlarios

Daily Video Reflections, Updates

Lori Feiler shares a quick reflection on the daily readings for Tuesday, May 5, 2020.

04May
2020

Daily Reflection for Monday, May 4, 2020

May 4, 2020

mlarios

Daily Video Reflections, Updates

Fr. Dennis shares a quick reflection on the daily readings for Monday, May 4, 2020

01May
2020

Reflection for Saturday, May 2, 2020

May 1, 2020

btobias

Daily Video Reflections, Updates

Saturday, May 2 – Reading 1 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.

Rise up to new life

by Rita Zyber

Today’s first reading echoes another scripture account – the one where Jesus heals the daughter of Jairus, a Jewish leader (Mark 5: 21-43). The girl has already died, but it only takes a few words from Jesus to bring her back to life. “Little girl, I say to you, get up,” he tells her. Then he takes her by the hand, and she gets up and walks around.

Peter does the same thing in today’s reading, bringing new life to Tabitha. He also heals a man who had been paralyzed for eight years. Sounds a lot like the work of Jesus, but wait – this is Peter.

Yes, it’s Peter, the one who denied that he even knew Jesus when things got really rough. We know the rest of the story (St. Peter becomes the foundation of our church leadership) but right then, not long after the crucifixion, Peter may have doubted his own ability and worthiness.

But things have changed since the Resurrection. Empowered by the Holy Spirit, Peter has been transformed. He knows he can do great things with the help of Jesus, and in the name of Jesus. Also, he has a powerful tool, he actually watched the Master at work.

Peter would have been one of those who were amazed when Jesus fed the crowds with just a few bits of fish and bread from a little boy (John 6: 8). Jesus showed the disciples (and all of us) that he can turn our scraps (our unworthiness) into abundance. God can multiply our meager gifts.

This is a good reminder for me in my work here at St. Mary’s. It’s a joy and privilege to share my experiences of God with our students, and with those who are preparing to become Catholic. But sometimes I wonder if I’m saying or doing the right thing. I doubt my worthiness to be God’s messenger. This passage reminds me that all of us – with our doubts, our brokenness and our human limitations – can be a life-giving force for others. It is God who heals and feeds us; it is God who multiplies the meager offerings we can bring.

So we may want to ask ourselves: Do I sometimes think I must be perfect to answer God’s call to “rise up” and bring more life to the world? What am I putting off doing or sharing because I think I’m unworthy? Today, can I remember to tap into the gifts of the Holy Spirit, which are given so abundantly to all of us?

01May
2020