Sunday May 7, 2023

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“Through the Sacraments, we are united to Christ’s divine nature so that we can continue the works of the Father.”

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Good News Reflection for:

Fifth Sunday of Easter
May 7, 2023

Today’s Prayer:

Thank You, Lord, for showing us the immense love of the Father. Thank You for entrusting us with Your power to perform great works of charity. Amen.

Subscribe to Today’s Saint Quote & Prayer:
gnm.org/SaintQuotes/

Today’s Readings:

Acts 6:1-7
Ps 33:1-2, 4-5, 18-19 (with 22)
1 Peter 2:4-9
John 14:1-12
bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/050723.cfm
USCCB Podcast of the Readings:
bible.usccb.org/podcasts/audio/daily-mass-reading-podcast-may-10-2023

Why we can do greater works than Jesus

This Sunday’s Gospel reading ends with a very astounding verse: “Whoever believes in me will do the works I do, and greater far than these.” What does he mean? How can we do the same — and greater — miracles than Jesus himself did?

The answer is found in the context of the entire chapter. Jesus is explaining his close relationship with the Father. Remember, Jesus was (and still is) both human and divine. We need to look at these verses with that in mind. How did he serve the Father as the Son of Man? And how did he serve the Father as the Son of God?

The “works I do” come from his human nature: He loved, he taught, he conversed with a listening heart, he dined with others, he worked hard at his job, he took his ministry very seriously. “Whoever believes in me will do the works I do” — he is our example of what it means to be a holy human. We will love others as he loves them, teach the faith to others, listen to those who need someone to understand them, work hard at our jobs, offer a helping hand when we see a need, etc. There’s nothing supernatural about it. It’s being who we are: human children of a loving Father.

The “greater” works come from his divine nature: He did the supernatural works of his Father. “Whoever believes in me will do the works of the Father.” We are called to be the Father’s conduits of miracles in our world today.

When Jesus united himself to us as a human, he showed us how to rise above our human limitations. Now, through the Sacraments of Baptism, Eucharist, and Confirmation, we are united to Christ’s divine nature so that we can continue the works of the Father. Through the Sacrament of Reconciliation, any disunity is removed. We can love the unlovable after they’ve pushed us past our human limits. We can be conduits of the supernatural. We can do everything that God asks of us, despite our inadequacies.

Questions for Personal Reflection:
Make a list of your gifts and talents. Then reflect on how each of these are the human works of Jesus for the world today. How has the Father also worked through you supernaturally?

Questions for Group Faith Sharing:
Name some of the good works being done in your parish or group: How do these reflect the human nature of Jesus? Name some of the ways that your parish or group shows the Father’s supernatural nature to the world. How can we become better able to do the “greater works” of the Father?

For more on this, go to our Faith Booster: “A Beautiful Masterpiece in the Mirror” @ https://wordbytes.org/faith-booster-minis/a-beautiful-masterpiece-in-the-mirror

© 2023 by Terry A. Modica

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