Faith and discipleship

Acts 9:31-42; Psalm: 115; Jn 6:60-69

In today’s first reading, the passage describes the early believers in the city of Joppa. At this time, the church was experiencing a period of peace and growth, and Peter was traveling throughout the region, preaching the word of God and healing the sick. In this particular instance, a woman named Tabitha had passed away, and the believers in Joppa called for Peter to come and pray over her body. Through Peter’s prayer, Tabitha was raised from the dead, and this miraculous event led to many more people coming to believe in the Lord.

This passage serves as a powerful reminder of God’s ability to work miracles and bring about a transformation into the lives of believers. It also emphasizes the importance of faith and community in the early church. The believers in Joppa were united in their devotion to God and their support for one another. In times of need, they came together to pray and seek the guidance and intervention of the Lord. This unity and faithfulness ultimately led to the growth and expansion of the early church.

On the other hand, in today’s Gospel, the passage describes a different scenario involving Jesus and his disciples. After Jesus delivers a challenging teaching about eating his flesh and drinking his blood, many of his followers begin to question and doubt his words. They struggle to understand the deeper spiritual meaning behind his message and find it difficult to accept. As a result, many of his disciples decided to leave and no longer follow him.

This passage highlights the importance of faith and trust in Jesus, even when his words and teachings are difficult to comprehend. Despite the doubts and questions raised by his followers, Peter makes a powerful declaration of faith, stating, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and know that you are the Holy One of God.” This statement reflects Peter’s unwavering commitment to Jesus as the Messiah and his acknowledgment of Jesus’ divine authority and power.

Overall, these two passages offer valuable insights into the nature of faith and discipleship. The believers in Joppa exemplify the power of unity, prayer, and community in the early church, while Peter’s declaration in John chapter 6 underscores the importance of trust and belief in Jesus as the source of eternal life. As modern-day disciples, we can draw inspiration from these stories and strive to cultivate a deep and abiding faith in God, trusting in his power to work miracles and transform our lives. Through prayer, community, and unwavering commitment to Jesus, we can continue to grow in our relationship with God and bear witness to his love and grace in the world.