Saturday of the Third Week of Easter
The 1st reading in today’s mass gives a glimpse of progress and growth in the early Church. There is peace in Palestine, fear of the Lord and an active presence of the Holy Spirit. Peter, the first pope, makes pastoral visits to the various churches, and in Joppa he performs an extraordinary miracle, with the result: “many came to believe in the Lord.”
This description clashes with the Gospel account of the reaction of many of Christ’s disciples who left him. They were not able to accept his teaching concerning the “bread of life,” his eucharistic presence in the bread and wine he would consecrate at the last supper.
These two readings should remind us of the axiom, “the more things change the more they remain the same.” We see that in the history of the Church today in China, India, and Africa; in Europe and in our own country. What should be our reaction?
Today is the second Saturday in May, both times dedicated to the Blessed Virgin, the mother of the Church, the mother of each of its members, especially those who suffer persecution because of their attachments to Christ. We should pray to Mary daily for those who come into the Church, for those who return, and even more for those who leave her. If Peter was given the grace to raise Tabitha, how much more is our mother Mary given the power to do the same.
Resolve: Besides special prayers to our mother Mary, I shall continue to pray that the cardinals, who will elect our next pope, be faithful to the graces given them by the Holy Spirit.