On this Mother’s Day weekend, we read a curious little story about a woman named Tabitha, in Greek, Dorcas. Whether she was a mother and/or widow, we’ll never know this side of heaven, but we do know the widows, presumably more likely to be mothers, admired and worked alongside her in the mission and work of the early church. Dorcas’ story is the first in Acts in which the apostles raise someone from the dead. (There is only one other, when Paul raises Eutychus after he falls thru a window in Acts 20.)

By this time, it’s almost that we’ve forgotten that the power of God can do this. This far into Acts we’ve seen mass conversions, other miraculous healing of people, martyrdoms, and the startling story of Ananias and Sapphira. But finally, we are reminded of God’s conquest over death, physical death. I think for many of us, living in this modern age, we can read these types of stories and be unsure of what to do with them. “Certainly, God doesn’t raise people from the dead anymore!”, we might be thinking. Or, “we don’t need these miracles anymore because that’s what God had to do for them, but not for us!”

Indeed, considering the fact that there are only two people in Acts who are raised from the dead, it does give the appearance that this was a unique way in which God showed his power. However, physical death isn’t the only thing God raised from the dead. The spiritual power of God includes the spiritual re-birth we need, not only when we go through a conversion experience, like Paul, but also through repentance and forgiveness. Here, do we come face to face with God’s grace, which is always available to us but should never be taken for granted. When we live into God’s grace, his unmerited favor towards us, do we begin to and rest in the goodness and holiness we are given by Him. I pray you to know intimately that the power of the Resurrection saves us from death and ushers in for us new and everlasting life through Jesus Christ. Amen.

In Christ,

Fr. Zach