Daily Catholic Lectio
Saturday, 20 April 2024
Third Week of Easter – Saturday
Acts 9:31-42. John 6:60-69
Journey of faith
Jesus’ long discourse on ‘the bread of life from heaven’ ends. The people who came to make Jesus king leave him hastily dissatisfied and hard. Saint Augustine, reflecting on this text, says, “The pity of the human condition! People who wanted to make Jesus a king so that he might satisfy their physical hunger deserted him when he chose to fulfil their spiritual hunger.
At the end of the discourse, we see two types of responses: the disciples who respond negatively leave Jesus, and the twelve disciples who respond positively stay close to Jesus.
Why do the twelve respond positively and others not?
(a) Faith vision. When others saw in Jesus a Jewish carpenter, the Twelve saw in him one who was consecrated to God. They saw him with eyes of faith.
(b) Spirit vs. flesh. The discourse brings to light the first leitmotif of the Fourth Gospel, i.e., Spirit-body, life-death. The flesh limits us, while the Spirit makes us transcend. The flesh makes us do what is convenient for us, while the Spirit helps us do what is correct.
(c) Drawn by the Father. Only those who are drawn by the Father can come to Jesus. Thus, faith is primarily grace.
In the first reading, we see how the Church begins to spread in numbers. Peter works two miracles in the name of Jesus: healing the sick and raising the dead. Peter imitates Jesus as a miracle worker. And Peter works these miracles in the name of Jesus. The name of Jesus draws many people, and a good many of them come to believe in him.
There are two journeys: one that is propelled by faith and takes us to Jesus, and another that is moving away from Jesus. We may have to make a firm choice and stick to it.
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“Prayer is the school of hope,” – Pope Benedict XVI (Jubilee A. D. 2025, bite 77)
Fr. Yesu Karunanidhi
Archdiocese of Madurai
Missionary of Mercy
Yesu Karunanidhi 
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