First Reading: Acts 9:31-42
The Church throughout all Judea, Galilee, and Samaria
was at peace.
She was being built up and walked in the fear of the Lord,
and with the consolation of the Holy Spirit she grew in numbers.
As Peter was passing through every region,
he went down to the holy ones living in Lydda.
There he found a man named Aeneas,
who had been confined to bed for eight years, for he was paralyzed.
Peter said to him,
"Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you. Get up and make your bed."
He got up at once.
And all the inhabitants of Lydda and Sharon saw him,
and they turned to the Lord.
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.
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.
This became known all over Joppa,
and many came to believe in the Lord.
Responsorial Psalm: Ps 117:1bc, 2
R./ How shall I make a return to the Lord for
all the good he has done for me?
or: Alleluia.
How shall I make a return to the Lord
for all the good he has done for me?
The cup of salvation I will take up,
and I will call upon the name of the Lord.
R./ How shall I make a return to the Lord for
all the good he has done for me?
or: Alleluia.
My vows to the Lord I will pay
in the presence of all his people.
Precious in the eyes of the Lord
is the death of his faithful ones.
R./ How shall I make a return to the Lord for
all the good he has done for me?
or: Alleluia.
O Lord, I am your servant;
I am your servant, the son of your handmaid;
you have loosed my bonds.
To you will I offer sacrifice of thanksgiving,
and I will call upon the name of the Lord.
R./ How shall I make a return to the Lord for
all the good he has done for me?
or: Alleluia.
Gospel Reading: John 6:60-69
Many of the disciples of Jesus who were listening said,
"This saying is hard; who can accept it?"
Since Jesus knew that his disciples were murmuring about this,
he said to them, "Does this shock you?
What if you were to see the Son of Man ascending to where he was before?
It is the Spirit that gives life, while the flesh is of no avail.
The words I have spoken to you are Spirit and life.
But there are some of you who do not believe."
Jesus knew from the beginning the ones who would not believe
and the one who would betray him.
And he said, "For this reason I have told you that no one can come to me
unless it is granted him by my Father."
As a result of this,
many of his disciples returned to their former way of life
and no longer walked with him.
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."
Liturgy of the Word
First Reading: Acts 9:31-42
The Church throughout all Judea, Galilee, and Samaria
was at peace.
She was being built up and walked in the fear of the Lord,
and with the consolation of the Holy Spirit she grew in numbers.
As Peter was passing through every region,
he went down to the holy ones living in Lydda.
There he found a man named Aeneas,
who had been confined to bed for eight years, for he was paralyzed.
Peter said to him,
"Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you. Get up and make your bed."
He got up at once.
And all the inhabitants of Lydda and Sharon saw him,
and they turned to the Lord.
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.
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.
This became known all over Joppa,
and many came to believe in the Lord.
Responsorial Psalm: Ps 117:1bc, 2
R./ How shall I make a return to the Lord for
all the good he has done for me?
or: Alleluia.
How shall I make a return to the Lord
for all the good he has done for me?
The cup of salvation I will take up,
and I will call upon the name of the Lord.
R./ How shall I make a return to the Lord for
all the good he has done for me?
or: Alleluia.
My vows to the Lord I will pay
in the presence of all his people.
Precious in the eyes of the Lord
is the death of his faithful ones.
R./ How shall I make a return to the Lord for
all the good he has done for me?
or: Alleluia.
O Lord, I am your servant;
I am your servant, the son of your handmaid;
you have loosed my bonds.
To you will I offer sacrifice of thanksgiving,
and I will call upon the name of the Lord.
R./ How shall I make a return to the Lord for
all the good he has done for me?
or: Alleluia.
Gospel Reading: John 6:60-69
Many of the disciples of Jesus who were listening said,
"This saying is hard; who can accept it?"
Since Jesus knew that his disciples were murmuring about this,
he said to them, "Does this shock you?
What if you were to see the Son of Man ascending to where he was before?
It is the Spirit that gives life, while the flesh is of no avail.
The words I have spoken to you are Spirit and life.
But there are some of you who do not believe."
Jesus knew from the beginning the ones who would not believe
and the one who would betray him.
And he said, "For this reason I have told you that no one can come to me
unless it is granted him by my Father."
As a result of this,
many of his disciples returned to their former way of life
and no longer walked with him.
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."
A few Sundays ago, after Mass, one of the people who had attended told me that Jesus hadn’t made it easy for us that day. The Gospel had strongly repeated the command to love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us. That man had taken the Gospel seriously and realized that Jesus—the Word of God—was giving us a huge challenge. To receive Communion with Jesus is also to receive communion with His Word. And for him, living out that commitment from the Eucharist was not easy at all.
Because receiving Communion is a very serious thing. And the same goes for going to Mass—or better said, for participating in the Eucharist. We shouldn’t go to Mass just as a religious duty or to say a few prayers. We go to participate, to listen to the Word, and to share the Bread of Life, who is Jesus Himself. The Mass challenges us, commits us, and calls us to live differently. And that’s not always easy.
Something similar happened to the disciples after hearing Jesus’ teachings in the Gospel readings we’ve heard over the past days. Today’s Gospel shows three key moments: First, the disciples say that Jesus’ teaching is hard and demanding. Second, many of them turn back and stop following Him. Third, Peter says: “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.” Not everyone left. Some, even though they knew they were weak and limited, chose to stay. Thanks to them, we are here today. Despite their doubts and struggles, they stayed with Jesus and became messengers of the Kingdom.
Now it’s our turn to ask ourselves: which group do we belong to? Like every decision of faith, it’s a personal choice—and it comes with risk. But from now on, each time we go to Mass, we must know what we are committing to. We are called to give our all—to try to live in a way that’s faithful to our belief. Now we truly understand what it means to receive Communion with Jesus.
Fernando Torres, CMF
