1ST READING
Paul is a very honest chap. One of the best qualities of a good leader is that he or she is willing to admit his or her mistakes. There is no doubt that Paul does this, in such a way as to encourage those who have made a similar mistake to follow him in correcting it. Any form of conversion involves renouncing a past way of life in order to embrace the new. Let us always go deeper in our relationship with God.
Acts 22:3-16 (or Acts 9:1-22)
3 Paul addressed the people in these words: “I am a Jew, born in Tarsus in Cilicia, but brought up in this city. At the feet of Gamaliel I was educated strictly in our ancestral law and was zealous for God, just as all of you are today. 4 I persecuted this way to death, binding both men and women and delivering them to prison. 5 Even the high priest and the whole council of elders can testify on my behalf. For from them I even received letters to the brothers and set out for Damascus to bring back to Jerusalem in chains for punishment those there as well. 6 “On that journey as I drew near to Damascus, about noon a great light from the sky suddenly shone around me. 7 I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?’ 8I replied, ‘Who are you, sir?’ And he said to me, ‘I am Jesus the Nazorean whom you are persecuting.’ 9 My companions saw the light but did not hear the voice of the one who spoke to me. 10 I asked, ‘What shall I do, sir?’ The Lord answered me, ‘Get up and go into Damascus, and there you will be told about everything appointed for you to do.’ 11 Since I could see nothing because of the brightness of that light, I was led by hand by my companions and entered Damascus. 12 A certain Ananias, a devout observer of the law, and highly spoken of by all the Jews who lived there, 13 came to me and stood there and said, ‘Saul, my brother, regain your sight.’ And at that very moment I regained my sight and saw him. 14 Then he said, ‘The God of our ancestors designated you to know his will, to see the Righteous One, and to hear the sound of his voice; 15 for you will be his witness before all to what you have seen and heard. 16Now, why delay? Get up and have yourself baptized and your sins washed away,calling upon his name.’”
P S A L M
Psalm 117:1, 2
R: Go out to all the world and tell the Good News.
1 Praise the Lord, all you nations; glorify him, all you peoples! (R) 2 For steadfast is his kindness toward us, and the fidelity of the Lord endures forever. (R)
GOSPEL
There is little doubt that Paul had heard from oral sources this or a similar story commanding us to go forth and baptize. It is important that we hear this command and act on it. At the heart of knowing the Good News must be the willingness to go out and share it with others, primarily by the way we live — and only in word if necessary. Paul is an inspiration in this regard. Let us imitate his zeal for the Kingdom of God.
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION
I chose you from the world, to go and bear fruit that will last, says the Lord.
Mark 16:15-18
15 Jesus appeared to the Eleven and said to them, “Go into the whole world and proclaim the gospel to every creature. 16 Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved; whoever does not believe will be condemned. 17 These signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will drive out demons, they will speak new languages. 18 They will pick up serpents with their hands, and if they drink any deadly thing, it will not harm them. They will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.”
think: Any form of conversion involves renouncing a past way of life in order to embrace the new.
T O D A Y’S BLESSING LIST
Thank You Lord for: __________________
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God’s special verse/thought for me today_
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READ THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR Mark 5-8
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