Reflections of a beloved son

Maybe sometimes we feel that we do not have much to give.  And so we do not give at all.   Peter and John knew that they themselves did not have much and could not give to the lame man what he was asking for, but they did know they had something else to give: the gift of faith.  In fact what they had to give was much more important and impactful than silver or gold.  What they had to offer seemed useless and impractical to the world - words? faith? "How can that fill my stomach?"  "How can that change my situation right now?" The lame man in the reading today (Acts 3:1-10) begged for alms, looked at Peter and John, and expected to receive something from them.  The Apostles said to him, " Look at us ," and Peter said " I have neither silver nor gold, but what I do have I give you ." We are told that the man expected to receive something from them - perhaps what he has been begging for: money.  I can just imagine this man sitting by the gate day ...

Sometimes we may feel like saying that to someone: " You know nothing... about me, about this situation, about anything. "  Think of a time when you had that experience.  What was happening?  Who was the other person?  What did you say or do?  How did it play out? In today's Gospel reading ( Jn. 11:45-56 ), after having listened to the Pharisees and Chief Priests bicker, debate, and discuss what to do with Jesus, the High Priest, Caiaphas said to them "You know nothing."  Then what followed was the suggestion that putting one man - Jesus - to death would be quite worth it in order to save the entire nation to perish.  Even though what was said seemed harsh, it was a prophecy.  It was a prophecy spoken by the High Priest that year, the instrument chosen by the Father to use to deliver such a prophecy.  Though Caiaphas thought only of saving the Jewish people by cutting ties with this Jesus by calling for His death, the prophecy, in the plan ...