Friday of the Third Week of Easter

Give a Mass Offering

Mass Intentions

7:45 AM – Mass League Intentions & Kevin Mullen / Elizabeth & Jerry Hoffman

Prayer for Spiritual Communion

My Jesus, I believe that you are present in the most Blessed Sacrament. I love You above all things and I desire to receive You into my soul. Since I cannot now receive You sacramentally, come at least spiritually into my heart. I embrace You as if You were already there, and unite myself wholly to You. Never permit me to be separated from You. Amen.

Readings

First Reading

Acts 9:1-20

Saul, still breathing murderous threats against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest 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. On his journey, as he was nearing Damascus, a light from the sky suddenly flashed around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” He said, “Who are you, sir?” The reply came, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. Now get up and go into the city and you will be told what you must do.” The men who were traveling with him stood speechless, for they heard the voice but could see no one. 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. For three days he was unable to see, and he neither ate nor drank.

There was a disciple in Damascus named Ananias, and the Lord said to him in a vision, “Ananias.” He answered, “Here I am, Lord.” 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, 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.” 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. And here he has authority from the chief priests to imprison all who call upon your name.” 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, and I will show him what he will have to suffer for my name.” 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.” Immediately things like scales fell from his eyes and he regained his sight. He got up and was baptized, and when he had eaten, he recovered his strength.

He stayed some days with the disciples in Damascus, and he began at once to proclaim Jesus in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God.

Responsorial Psalm

Psalms 117:1bc, 2

R. (Mark 16:15) Go out to all the world and tell the Good News.

Praise the LORD, all you nations;
glorify him, all you peoples!

R. Go out to all the world and tell the Good News.

For steadfast is his kindness toward us,
and the fidelity of the LORD endures forever.

R. Go out to all the world and tell the Good News.

Gospel Acclamation

John 6:56

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Whoever eats my Flesh and drinks my Blood,
remains in me and I in him, says the Lord.

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel

John 6:52-59

The Jews quarreled among themselves, saying, “How can this man give us his Flesh to eat?” 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. Whoever eats my Flesh and drinks my Blood has eternal life, and I will raise him on the last day. For my Flesh is true food, and my Blood is true drink. Whoever eats my Flesh and drinks my Blood remains in me and I in him. 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. This is the bread that came down from heaven. Unlike your ancestors who ate and still died, whoever eats this bread will live forever.” These things he said while teaching in the synagogue in Capernaum.

“Go out to all the world and tell the Good News.”

— Mark 16:15

Reflection

The Acts of the Apostles tells of a tremendously important change! Saul, a persecutor of Christ, finds himself undergoing a transformation that will leave him an ardent defender of Christ and his followers!

Saul had a murderous intent to kill Jesus, as well as any of the followers of “the way” the movement centered on Christ, which formed the Church. The transformation of Saul into the person we know as St. Paul, reminds us that God calls into service whomever he wishes. I always have wondered what Saul’s friends and compatriots must have thought when they first encountered him as a changed man. How does one explain that they have had a radical conversion?

The question of conversion is one that we all should be able to answer. The great majority of believers have a conversion of their own at some point in their life. Few of us never doubt or question either the laws of God, or the meaning of the teachings of Christ, yet, hopefully, we come to deeper conviction and belief in Christ. The experience of questioning and doubt can lead us to the ministry of accompaniment. Christ calls believers to accompany those who are in doubt, those who would “persecute” the Church and the followers of Christ. Our ability to share the challenges leading to our conversion can lead others to a deep and abiding faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.

Let us be like Paul, open to change, and open to sharing our own conversion story with those whom we encounter. Like Paul, we may find ourselves persecuted. Let us rejoice in the opportunity to teach and defend Christ to all those we meet.

Peace,

Fr. John

Would you like to receive Readings & Reflections in your inbox? Subscribe to The Daily Bread newsletter.

May 6