Daily Readings - Fri Apr 19 2024
Acts
1Now Saul, still breathing threats and beatings against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest2and he petitioned him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that, if he found any men or women belonging to this Way, he could lead them as prisoners to Jerusalem3And as he made the journey, it happened that he was approaching Damascus. And suddenly, a light from heaven shone around him4And falling to the ground, he heard a voice saying to him, "Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?5And he said, "Who are you, Lord?" And he: "I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. It is hard for you to kick against the goad.6And he, trembling and astonished, said, "Lord, what do you want me to do?7And the Lord said to him, "Rise up and go into the city, and there you will be told what you ought to do." Now the men who were accompanying him were standing stupefied, hearing indeed a voice, but seeing no one8Then Saul rose up from the ground. And upon opening his eyes, he saw nothing. So leading him by the hand, they brought him into Damascus9And in that place, he was without sight for three days, and he neither ate nor drank10Now there was a certain disciple at Damascus, named Ananias. And the Lord said to him in a vision, "Ananias!" And he said, "Here I am, Lord.11And the Lord said to him: "Rise up and go into the street that is called Straight, and seek, in the house of Judas, the one named Saul of Tarsus. For behold, he is praying.12(And Paul saw a man named Ananias entering and imposing hands upon him, so that he might receive his sight.13But Ananias responded: "Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much harm he has done to your saints in Jerusalem14And he has authority here from the leaders of the priests to bind all who invoke your name.15Then the Lord said to him: "Go, for this one is an instrument chosen by me to convey my name before nations and kings and the sons of Israel16For I will reveal to him how much he must suffer on behalf of my name.17And Ananias departed. And he entered the house. And laying his hands upon him, he said: "Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, he who appeared to you on the way by which you arrived, sent me so that you would receive your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.18And immediately, it was as if scales had fallen from his eyes, and he received his sight. And rising up, he was baptized19And when he had taken a meal, he was strengthened. Now he was with the disciples who were at Damascus for some days20And he was continuously preaching Jesus in the synagogues: that he is the Son of God
John
52Therefore, the Jews debated among themselves, saying, "How can this man give us his flesh to eat?53And so, 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 will not have life in you54Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day55For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink56Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me, and I in him57Just as the living Father has sent me and I live because of the Father, so also whoever eats me, the same shall live because of me58This is the bread that descends from heaven. It is not like the manna that your fathers ate, for they died. Whoever eats this bread shall live forever.59He said these things when he was teaching in the synagogue at Capernaum
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter two profound narratives that invite us to reflect on transformation and the grace of God. The first reading from Acts recounts the dramatic conversion of Saul, a zealous Pharisee who persecuted early Christians. His journey to Damascus is interrupted by a blinding vision of Jesus, leading to his repentance and healing through Ananias. This event marks Saul's transformation into Paul, a devoted missionary. The second reading from John features Jesus' discourse on the Bread of Life, where He emphasizes that partaking in His flesh and blood is essential for eternal life, symbolizing spiritual nourishment and union with Him.
These readings are deeply connected through themes of transformation and divine grace. Saul's conversion illustrates God's power to change hearts, turning a persecutor into a proclaimer of faith. Similarly, Jesus' words in John highlight the necessity of spiritual nourishment for eternal life, offering a transformative relationship with God. Both narratives underscore the idea that true transformation comes from encountering God's grace.
In our daily lives, these readings encourage us to remain open to transformative moments. Just as Saul was transformed by his encounter with Jesus, we too can experience conversion and renewal. Jesus' invitation to partake in His divine life reminds us to seek spiritual nourishment through prayer, sacraments, and living according to His teachings. The moral lesson here is the boundless grace of God, urging us to embrace His transformative power in our lives, leading us to deeper faith and service.