Daily Readings - Fri May 10 2019
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
In today's readings, we encounter two profound moments of transformation and spiritual nourishment. The first reading from Acts 9:1-20 recounts the dramatic conversion of Saul, a fierce persecutor of Christians, who encounters Jesus on the road to Damascus. This encounter transforms Saul into Paul, a devout follower of Christ, through the intervention of Ananias. The second reading, John 6:52-59, presents Jesus teaching about the necessity of partaking in His flesh and blood, symbolizing the Eucharist, which offers eternal life and union with Him.
The context of Acts 9 is set amidst the early Christian church's struggles, where Saul's persecution highlights the tension between the emerging faith and traditional beliefs. His conversion is a pivotal moment, illustrating God's power to transform even the most hardened hearts. In John 6, Jesus teaches in the synagogue at Capernaum, using the metaphor of eating His flesh and drinking His blood to convey the deeper spiritual truth of communion with Him, which was controversial and led some followers to turn away.
These readings connect through themes of transformation and spiritual sustenance. Saul's conversion exemplifies the transformative power of encountering Christ, while John's passage emphasizes the necessity of spiritual nourishment through the Eucharist. Both invite us to reflect on our openness to God's transformative grace and our commitment to spiritual growth.
In our daily lives, these readings encourage us to remain open to conversion and to seek spiritual nourishment. Just as Saul surrendered to God's will, we are called to trust in God's plan, even when it seems uncertain. The Eucharist, as a source of spiritual strength, reminds us to partake in Christ's divine life, fostering a deeper union with Him. The moral lesson here is one of surrender and trust, urging us to embrace God's transformative power and to find sustenance in our spiritual practices.
May these readings inspire us to seek transformation and nourishment in our faith journey, trusting in God's plan and partaking in the spiritual feast He provides.