SATURDAY OF THE THIRD WEEK OF EASTER - Gospel (John 6:60-69) - THE WORD OF GOD FOR EVERYONE

“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.” (Jn 6:63)

FIRST READING - Acts 9:31-42

A reading from the Book of the Acts of the Apostles

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.

GOSPEL OF THE DAY -

From the Gospel according to John

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.”

SATURDAY OF THE THIRD WEEK OF EASTER - Gospel (John 6:60-69)

THE WORD OF GOD FOR EVERYONE

Dear People of God,

In today's Word of God, God reveals to humanity the true identity of Jesus Christ: He is the Truth, the Light, and the Life given to humanity. Only He can offer eternal life, as He declared: “I am the living bread that came down from heaven; whoever eats this bread will live forever.”

This saying is hard for humans to believe because it is beyond human intelligence and understanding. Only through the Spirit and the light of God can people truly hear, understand, and believe the Word He has given. When people wholeheartedly believe in, love, and live according to the Word of God, that Word becomes the path to salvation. This is the truth.

Today’s message also reveals that Jesus Christ is the Holy Bread in the Holy Eucharist. Whoever believes in Him, receives Him into their heart, and lives according to His teachings will be saved—both body and soul. No one possesses power as great as His. No one has love as profound as the love of the Most High God. Therefore, God extends this invitation to all humanity:

• Come to God, so that He may strengthen you to worthily receive His Holy Body and Blood. Without the strength and love that God imparts to the soul, it cannot bear the holiness of receiving His Only Begotten Son into the heart.

Turn to God, who is Love. Ask for the strength and guidance of the Holy Spirit to lead you to the source of grace—Jesus Christ—through the Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist. Only in Him can we find the spiritual and eternal nourishment our souls and bodies need while on earth, until the day He brings us into the joy of His Kingdom.

Have a simple, pure, and innocent heart, always open to the Holy Spirit’s guidance, ready to receive the Son of God into your soul and rejoice in the eternal happiness of Heaven.

Today, God invites us through His Word: “Whoever eats this bread will live forever.” This bread is the Body of Jesus Christ, the Only Son of the Most High, truly present in the Holy Eucharist.

Thanks be to God. Amen.

19:00 May 10th, 2025 - Prayer of Divine Mercy - The Way to Heaven