“Do You Also Want to Leave?”
Piety
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.
Acts 9:36-38
Jesus then said to
the Twelve, “Do you also want to leave?” Simon Peter answered him, “Master, to
whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and
are convinced that you are the Holy One of God.” John 6:67-69
Study
The Way is coming to life in the witness, preaching,
healing, and examples related to the early Church. Today, we see two prime examples.
First, there is Tabitha/Dorcas who exemplifies the right
attitude toward material possessions expressed by Jesus and related by St. Luke
in the God News.
Give to everyone who asks of you, and from the one who
takes what is yours do not demand it back. (Luke 6:30)
Sell your belongings and give alms. Provide money bags
for yourselves that do not wear out, an inexhaustible treasure in heaven that
no thief can reach nor moth destroy. (12:33)
Second, there is Peter.
What struck me about this story is how Peter’s reaction to the news
about Tabitha differed from Jesus’ reaction when his friend Lazarus died. Jesus held back from rushing to the grave
site of his friend. When he finally
arrived, the community probably wondered why he had not come sooner.
However, when Peter is called upon, he rushed to her side
even though he knew she was dead. The
doubts expressed in the boat or the denials of Good Friday are histories
now. Peter is living up to the “rock”
which Jesus envisioned.
Action
How shall I make a return to the Lord for all the good he
has done for me?
Granted, Jesus presents challenging teachings. We would prefer to remain in our comfort zone
resting our weary knees.
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