1ST READING
Saul
encounters Jesus on his way to Damascus to persecute and even kill
Christians. How ironic that he is to become the great advocate for
Christianity and take the Gospel to the Gentiles. I wonder what our
experience of encountering Jesus was like? Are we jealous of the ways in
which the saints have come to know Jesus with such certainty? God knows
what He is doing. Perhaps our lack of a powerful encounter with Jesus
is because we do not seek Him as diligently as we can.
Acts 9:1-20
1 Saul, still breathing murderous threats against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest 2 and
asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, that, if he should
find any men or women who belonged to the Way, he might bring them back
to Jerusalem in chains. 3 On his journey, as he was nearing Damascus, a light from the sky suddenly flashed around him. 4 He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying
to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” 5 He said, “Who are you, sir?” The reply came, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. 6 Now get up and go into the city and you will be told what you must do.” 7 The men who were traveling with him stood speechless, for they heard the voice but could see no one. 8 Saul
got up from the ground, but when he opened his eyes he could see
nothing; so they led him by the hand and brought him to Damascus.
9 For three days he was unable to see, and he neither ate nor drank. 10 There
was a disciple in Damascus named Ananias, and the Lord said to him in a
vision, “Ananias.” He answered, “Here I am, Lord.” 11 The
Lord said to him, “Get up and go to the street called Straight and ask
at the house of Judas for a man from Tarsus named Saul. He is there
praying, 12 and in a vision he has seen a man named Ananias come in and lay
his hands on him, that he may regain his sight.” 13 But
Ananias replied, “Lord, I have heard from many sources about this man,
what evil things he has done to your holy ones in Jerusalem. 14 And here he has authority from the chief priests to imprison all who call upon your name.” 15 But
the Lord said to him, “Go, for this man is a chosen instrument of mine
to carry my name before Gentiles, kings, and children of Israel, 16 and I will show him what he will have to
suffer for my name.” 17 So
Ananias went and entered the house; laying his hands on him, he said,
“Saul, my brother, the Lord has sent me, Jesus who appeared to you on
the way by which you came, that you may regain your sight and be filled
with the Holy Spirit.” 18 Immediately things like scales fell from his eyes and he regained his sight. He got up and was baptized, 19 and when he had eaten, he recovered his strength. He stayed some days with the disciples in Damascus, 20 and he began at once to proclaim Jesus in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God.
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
Jesus
understands well His mission. He indicates that He is going to shed His
blood for us and that through this we will be able to reconcile with
God. We will be given a second chance at life. The Church’s sacramental
understanding of John 6 is that the Eucharist becomes for us a
participation and sharing in the death of Christ and its effect in our
lives. Let us pray for a deeper understanding and appreciation of the
Eucharist.
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION
Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood, remains in me and I in him, says the Lord.
John 6:52-59
52 The Jews quarreled among themselves, saying, “How can this man give us his Flesh to eat?” 53 Jesus
said to them, “Amen, amen, I say to you, unless you eat the Flesh of
the Son of Man and drink his Blood, you do not have life within you. 54 Whoever eats my Flesh and drinks my Blood has eternal life, and I will raise him on the last day. 55 For my Flesh is true food, and my Blood is true drink.
56 Whoever eats my Flesh and drinks my Blood remains in me and I in him. 57 Just
as the living Father sent me and I have life because of the Father, so
also the one who feeds on me will have life because of me. 58 This
is the bread that came down from heaven. Unlike your ancestors who ate
and still died, whoever eats this bread will live forever.” 59 These things he said while teaching in the synagogue in Capernaum.
think: The Eucharist becomes for us a participation and sharing in the death of Christ and its effect in our lives.
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 Deuteronomy 27-30
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