Daily Readings - Fri Apr 23 2021
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 encounters with the divine that transformed lives and revealed the depth of God's love. The first reading from Acts describes 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 passionate missionary who would spread the Gospel to the ends of the earth. The second reading from John’s Gospel presents Jesus teaching about the Bread of Life, where He invites us to partake in His flesh and blood, promising eternal life and union with Him. These readings invite us to reflect on the transformative power of faith and the gift of divine life offered through Christ.
The conversion of Saul and the teaching on the Bread of Life are deeply connected. Both reveal the initiative of God in reaching out to humanity. Saul, a man who once sought to destroy the Church, is chosen by God to become a vessel of His grace. Similarly, in the Eucharist, Jesus offers Himself to us, not because we deserve it, but because of His boundless love. These readings remind us that our faith is not about our own efforts but about responding to God’s grace. Just as Ananias trusted God’s plan for Saul, we are called to trust in the transformative power of the Eucharist in our lives.
As we reflect on these readings, let us ask ourselves: How is God calling us to conversion today? Like Saul, do we need to let go of our pride or resistance to follow Christ more fully? And how do we approach the Eucharist? Do we see it as a source of spiritual nourishment and a call to live as disciples of Jesus? May these readings inspire us to embrace the transformative grace of God, to trust in His plan for our lives, and to live with the same courage and love that defined St. Paul’s mission. Let us allow the Word of God and the Bread of Life to shape us anew each day.