“Tabitha, Rise Up” by Melanie Rigney

“Tabitha, Rise Up” by Melanie Rigney

Saturday of the Third Week of Easter 

Now in Joppa, there was a disciple named Tabitha (which translated means 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. (Acts 9:36-41)

How shall I make a return to the Lord for all the good he has done for me? (Psalm 116:12) 

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)

Piety

Jesus, may I remember that any good work I attempt comes through You, and You will determine the success of that work. 

Study

Peter had been there the day Jesus raised the synagogue leader’s dead daughter, taking her hand and saying, “Talitha koum!” (Little girl, I say to you, get up!”)

He had had his doubts at times before the Resurrection, doubts about himself. But after that post-Resurrection day when Jesus asked him to feed the Lord’s sheep, there was no stopping Peter. 

It is not lost on us as Christians, the beautiful parallels of Peter’s own miracle in today’s Gospel. After praying, he said, “Tabitha, rise up.” And the disciple did. Peter didn’t stop and wonder about how to do this, about his powers. In prayer, he made himself a tool of the Lord.

We have our doubts as well; days we wonder why and how God loves us, what precisely our charism is and how to live it. Our abilities seem small. And yet, with prayer and faith, we too have the opportunity to raise people from spiritual, emotional, or mental death. We have the power Jesus conferred on us to go forth and make disciples of all nations, with a compassionate word, a listening ear, a kind action. With the Lord’s help, we, too, can restore people to life. 

Action

Help someone rise up today.

 

Image Credit: Jacob Jordaens https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Dorcas_Raised_From_the_Dead_by_Saint_Peter_MET_SF-1975-1-835.jpg