Wednesday in the Octave of Easter



“But Peter looked intently at him, as did John, and said, “Look at us.” (Acts 3:4.)

In commenting on these verses from today’s First Reading, Saint John Chrysostom writes:

“What then does Peter do? He did not despise him; he did not look about for some rich subject; he did not say, “If the miracle is not done to some great one, nothing great is done.” He did not expect any payment from him, nor was it in the presence of others that he healed him. For the man was at the entrance, not inside, where the crowd was. Peter did not look for any of these things, nor did he enter and preach; no, it was his bearing that drew the lame man to ask. And the wonder is that he believed so readily. For those who are set free from diseases of long standing hardly believe their very eyesight. After he was healed he remained with the apostles, giving thanks to God. “He entered the temple with them, walking and leaping and praising God.” Notice how he does not keep quiet. For if previously he was incapable of simply walking, even when oppressed by hunger (indeed, he would not have chosen to share the proceeds of his begging with his litter bearers if he could have fended for himself), this should hold true even more now. And why would he have put on an act for those who had given him no alms? It can only be that the man was grateful, even after his recovery. Both by his thankfulness and by the healing itself his faith is revealed.” (Homilies On the Acts of the Apostles, 8.)




Collect
O God, Who gladden us year by year
with the solemnity of the Lord’s Resurrection,
graciously grant
that, by celebrating these present festivities,
we may merit through them to reach eternal joys.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son
Who lives and reigns with You
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. Amen.



Glory to the Father
and to the Son
and to the Holy Spirit:
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and will be forever. Amen