Daily Readings - Fri Apr 20 2018
Acts
1And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest,2And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem.3And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven:4And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?5And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.6And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do.7And the men which journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice, but seeing no man.8And Saul arose from the earth; and when his eyes were opened, he saw no man: but they led him by the hand, and brought him into Damascus.9And he was three days without sight, and neither did eat nor drink.10And there was a certain disciple at Damascus, named Ananias; and to him said the Lord in a vision, Ananias. And he said, Behold, I am here, Lord.11And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the street which is called Straight, and enquire in the house of Judas for one called Saul, of Tarsus: for, behold, he prayeth,12And hath seen in a vision a man named Ananias coming in, and putting his hand on him, that he might receive his sight.13Then Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he hath done to thy saints at Jerusalem:14And here he hath authority from the chief priests to bind all that call on thy name.15But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel:16For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name's sake.17And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house; and putting his hands on him said, Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost.18And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales: and he received sight forthwith, and arose, and was baptized.19And when he had received meat, he was strengthened. Then was Saul certain days with the disciples which were at Damascus.20And straightway he preached Christ in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God.
John
52The Jews therefore strove among themselves, saying, How can this man give us his flesh to eat?53Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you.54Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day.55For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed.56He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him.57As the living Father hath sent me, and I live by the Father: so he that eateth me, even he shall live by me.58This is that bread which came down from heaven: not as your fathers did eat manna, and are dead: he that eateth of this bread shall live for ever.59These things said he in the synagogue, as he taught in Capernaum.
Sermon
The readings today present us with profound moments of transformation and spiritual truth. In the first reading from Acts, we witness the dramatic conversion of Saul, a fierce persecutor of Christians, who encounters the risen Jesus on the road to Damascus. This moment of divine intervention transforms Saul into Paul, a zealous apostle for Christ. The reading highlights the power of God’s grace to change even the hardest of hearts and the importance of obedience to God’s call. In the Gospel, Jesus speaks of the necessity of eating his flesh and drinking his blood, a teaching that puzzled many of his listeners. He explains that this is not merely a symbolic act but a deeply spiritual one, where we receive eternal life and abide in him.
The connection between these two readings lies in their emphasis on transformation and the necessity of faith. Saul’s conversion is a vivid example of how God can bring light to those in darkness, while Jesus’ words in the Gospel remind us that true life comes from union with him. Just as Saul was called to a new way of life, we are invited to embrace the life-giving presence of Christ in the Eucharist. Both readings challenge us to open our hearts to God’s grace and to trust in his plan, even when it seems difficult or mysterious.
In our daily lives, these readings call us to reflect on our own journey of faith. Are there areas where we, like Saul, need to let go of our own understanding and surrender to God’s will? How do we respond to the invitation to deepen our union with Christ through the Eucharist? Let us pray for the courage to follow God’s call, even when it leads us into unknown territory, and for the grace to truly abide in Christ, that we may live as his disciples in the world.