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.

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.

Saul was of the class of Pharisees, inculcated in their traditions and was well educated in the law and scriptures. However, his unreflective knowledge, pride and self righteousness misled him into persecuting the early Christians. He would hold and treasure God’s word and yet do what isn’t God’s will.

Jesus had warned his disciples to be careful of the yeast of the Pharisees, to heed what they preach but not to follow what they do. Jesus’ coming as a human being was to reveal what had been kept obscure and hidden in mystery. Human interpretation is flawed and needs divine revelation in time for it to be enlightened. That is why Jesus can say that he is the Way, the Truth and the Life. In time, Jesus revealed himself to Saul and this encounter changed his whole perception and understanding. He was baptized Paul and became the apostle for the Gentiles, the right person for the right mission.

The Church teaches that the Holy Eucharist is the highest form of prayer. Yet many behave as if this is not true simply because many have not yet experienced their personal encounter of surprise. The initiative on our part is to seek and find. In due time, God will see our desire and grant us an audience with Him. Yet it is He who chooses and at His pleasure and time. Once we encounter God in a very special way, then what we were taught before slowly becomes clear and our understanding gradual. Time and perseverance allows this relationship to develop and grow. Our whole paradigm will shift and predisposition towards the celebration of God’s faithfulness to us will usher in a new and fuller life for us thus fulfilling Jesus’ words “anyone who eats this bread will live forever.”

Do I make a bold effort to seek and find or am I complacent and secure in my comfort zones content with my limited understanding and experiences? Do my actions and piety contradict what Jesus teaches through the Church?

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Finally, we pray for one another, for those who have asked our prayers and for those who need our prayers the most.

Have a good day!

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