Memorial of Saint Athanasius, bishop and doctor of the Church
Lectionary: 278

Reading 1 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 116:12-13, 14-15, 16-17

R.    (12) How shall I make a return to the Lord for all the good he has done for me?
or:
R.    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:
R.    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:
R.    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:
R.    Alleluia.

Alleluia John 6:63c, 68c

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life;
you have the words of everlasting life.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel 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.”

For the readings of the Memorial of Saint Athanasius, please go here.

Lectionary for Mass for Use in the Dioceses of the United States, second typical edition, Copyright © 2001, 1998, 1997, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine; Psalm refrain © 1968, 1981, 1997, International Committee on English in the Liturgy, Inc. All rights reserved. Neither this work nor any part of it may be reproduced, distributed, performed or displayed in any medium, including electronic or digital, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

Trusting in His Goodness

Yesterday in our reading we talked about how we could trust God. We know that we can trust and follow Him into the unknown, even when it is scary. We are able to do this because we know that He is good. But how do we know that He is good?

His Words and His Works

God gives us these two ways to know His Goodness. We know of the teachings and parables of Jesus. We hear them almost everyday in the gospel readings. We have heard of His miraculous works. You have read the stories of how He healed and cast out demons. He even raised people from death to life.

After His death, Jesus said to a doubting Thomas,

“Have you come to believe because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed.”

John 20:29bc

But in His patience and mercy, Jesus knew that sometimes people would need to see to believe. Sometimes words alone would not be enough and, in order to believe, we would need to see works.

This isn’t a new concept. The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob was a God of works and words. Throughout Israelite history, He shows up to save, cast out evil, and raise them from certain death.

The power of Jesus is the power of God. If Jesus had so chosen, He could have wiped evil off the planet with a wave of His hand, and reigned as the mighty King that He truly is. When Jesus sat teaching in John 6, He already knew who would believe and who wouldn’t. He even knew who would betray Him. And who would leave Him. Even then, He didn’t use words alone. He went forward to the cross with deeds. He love is seen in His work at the cross.

Words and Works of the Apostles

In the first reading, Peter travels the known world, preaching the Good News. His words are truth and life, carrying with them the good work of Jesus on the cross and His saving resurrection. When he arrives in Lydda, and then in Joppa, he is called upon and he raises two people from sickness, and even death. And the result? Many were saved. Many believed.

Why did he need to do works? The Good News should be enough, right? The truth is, the historic promises of the Bible and the faithfulness of God as seen in its pages can seem distant. Words can feel empty. Even the message of the Good News can seem too good to be true or even nonsensical to some. Sometimes we can tell someone everything they need to know to believe and be saved, and it isn’t enough. Living in a broken world makes us jaded, and sometimes we need evidence.

Sometimes Seeing is Believing

Praise God He is patience with us. He doesn’t need to prove Himself. He is God and we are not. He is a good father, knowing His children. He knows what we need, even if it is seeing to believe. He is a good God and He shows us His love time and again, endlessly demonstrating His goodness and faithfulness.

His Endless Proofs of Love

We can see His goodness in the Old Testament, as He faithfully returns to an unfaithful people. We see His goodness in the works and words of Jesus in His ministry. His goodness is found in perfect form in His sacrifice on the cross and His resurrection. It can be seen in the explosion of faith in the early church and the acts of the apostles.

And if all of that were not enough, it can be found in the pages of your own story. In my life, time and again, God comes faithfully to me and to my family with His goodness. As I look back over my life, all I can see is His goodness. Even when I was faithless. When I was angry. When I was scared or doubting or defiant. He comes to me with goodness. With love and answered prayers.

His Goodness for You and Me

We can know He is good by His word and His works. Jesus is the living embodiment of His Word and His Works. We can find Him in the words and works of the Bible, but also by His words and His works in our own lives.

This is why I always encourage people to write down their prayers, date them, and leave space for God’s goodness and answers. He always answers. Sometimes it is quickly, sometimes it takes years. His goodness and faithfulness is usually completely different than we expected, but it is always better.

Today, spend some time writing down what God has done for you. Hunt for the places in your life where you see His goodness. Then write down your current prayer needs. Leave lots of empty space. His goodness will fill it.