First Reading (Acts 9:1-20)
Reading the Acts of the Apostles.
In those days, Saul only breathed threats and death against the Lord’s disciples. He presented himself to the High Priest and asked him for letters of recommendation for the synagogues of Damascus, in order to take prisoners to Jerusalem the men and women he found following the Way. During the journey, when he was close to Damascus, Saul suddenly found himself surrounded by a light coming from the sky. Falling to the ground, he heard a voice saying to him: “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?”
Saul asked, “Who are you, Lord?” The voice replied: “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. Now get up, enter the city, and there you will be told what you must do.” The men who accompanied Saul were speechless with astonishment, because they heard the voice but saw no one. Saul got up from the ground and opened his eyes, but he couldn’t see anything. Then they took him by the hand and led him to Damascus. Saulo was unable to see for three days. And he neither ate nor drank.
In Damascus there was a disciple named Ananias. The Lord called to him in a vision: “Ananias!” And Ananias replied, “Here I am, Lord!” The Lord said to him: “Get up, go to the street called Straight and look, at the house of Judas, for a man from Tarsus named Saul. He is praying.” And in a vision, Saul beheld a man named Ananias coming in and laying his hands on him so that he might regain his sight. Ananias replied, “Lord, I have heard many talk about this man and the evil he has done to your faithful who are in Jerusalem. And here in Damascus he has full powers, received from the high priests, to arrest all who call on your name.”
But the Lord said to Ananias, “Go, for this man is an instrument I have chosen to proclaim my name to the Gentiles, to the kings, and to the people of Israel. I will show him how much he must suffer because of me.” Then Ananias went out, entered the house, and laid his hands on Saul, saying, “Saul, my brother, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you as you were on the way, has sent me here so that you may recover your sight and be filled with the Spirit. Holy”.
Immediately scales fell from Saul’s eyes and he regained his sight. Then Saul got up and was baptized. Having taken food, he felt comforted. Saul spent a few days with the disciples in Damascus, and soon began preaching in the synagogues, affirming that Jesus is the Son of God.
– Word of the Lord.
– Thank God.
Gospel (John 6,52-59)
— Proclamation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint John.
— Glory to you, Lord.
At that time, the Jews argued among themselves, saying: “How can he give his flesh to eat?” Then Jesus said, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you will not have life in you. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up 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. As the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so he who eats me will live because of me. This is the bread that came down from heaven. It’s not like the one your parents ate. They died. He who eats this bread will live forever.” Thus spoke Jesus, teaching in the synagogue in Capernaum.
— Word of Salvation.
— Glory to you, Lord.
Reflecting the Word of God
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,
Today, I bring you a message that will touch your lives in a profound and transformative way. Let me start with a question: how many times, in our daily walk, do we feel blind to the wonders that God performs around us? How often do we find ourselves trapped in our own limitations and failures, unable to see the love and divine grace that are constantly present in our lives?
In today’s biblical passages, we find powerful stories that invite us to open our eyes and hearts to the presence of God in our lives. In the first reading, from the book of the Acts of the Apostles, we are introduced to Saul, a man who persecuted Jesus’ followers. Saul was blind to the truth and the presence of the resurrected Christ. But a transformative encounter with Jesus himself led to a profound change of heart. He became Paul, the great apostle, a powerful instrument in the hands of God.
This transformation of Saul into Paul reminds us that, often, a personal encounter with Jesus is necessary for us to see the truth and experience transformation. Like Paul, we may find ourselves blind to the presence of Christ in our lives, but God’s grace is always ready to reach and transform us.
In the Gospel of John, we find Jesus teaching about the Eucharist, the supreme gift of his presence in our lives. He tells us: “Unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you will not have life in you” (John 6:53). These words are profound and challenging, but they are also an invitation to open our hearts and feed on the love and grace of Christ.
The Eucharist is one of the greatest mysteries of our faith. In it, we find the real presence of Jesus, his body and blood, which nourish us spiritually and unite us to his life. Just as the bread and wine are transformed into his body and blood, we too are invited to an inner transformation, to become more like Christ in our thoughts, words and actions.
When we participate in the Eucharist, we are invited to enter into intimate communion with the Lord. It is a sacred moment when our eyes are opened to the reality of God’s love poured out to us. It is as if the veils were removed and we could clearly see the beauty and presence of God in our lives.
But just as Jesus’ disciples found it difficult to understand his words, we too often struggle to understand the mystery of the Eucharist. It’s understandable. After all, how can we fully understand something so grand and divine? Here, metaphors and analogies can help us expand our understanding.
Imagine you are in a scorching desert, dehydrated and weak. You are about to pass out when suddenly you find a source of crystal clear water. You approach, drink and feel refreshed. In the same way, when we approach the Eucharist, we find the source of life, the fountain of grace that gives us spiritual strength to face daily challenges.
Another powerful metaphor is that of a family meal. When we sit at the table with our loved ones, we share not only food, but also our joys, sorrows and life experiences. Likewise, in the Eucharist, we come together as a family of faith to share life with Jesus and each other. It is a moment of communion and union, where we are strengthened as the body of Christ.
Dear brothers and sisters, these biblical passages invite us to reflect on the importance of opening our eyes to the presence of God in our lives and of spiritually nourishing ourselves with the Eucharist, the divine food that strengthens and transforms us.
But how can we apply these spiritual truths to our everyday lives? Allow me to offer some practical guidance. First, let us seek to have a personal encounter with Jesus. Just like Paul, we can find ourselves blind to the truth, stuck in our own ways. But Jesus is always ready to meet us where we are and invite us to a change of heart. Let us dedicate time to prayer, reading the Word of God and participating in the Eucharist. Let us allow Jesus to touch our lives and transform us.
Furthermore, as we participate in the Eucharist, let us cultivate an attitude of reverence and gratitude. The Eucharist is not just an empty ritual; it is a sacred encounter with Christ himself. As we receive the body and blood of Jesus, let us open our hearts to receive his grace and love. Let us be aware of the gift given to us and let the Eucharist transform us into missionary disciples, bringing the love of Christ to the world.
It is also important to remember that the Eucharist is not just an individual experience, but a communal experience. Just as we gather as a family to share a meal, we gather as a community of faith to celebrate the Eucharist. Let us find time to actively participate in the life of the community, to unite in prayer and to support each other in our journey of faith. United, we are stronger and can be living witnesses of God’s love.
Dear brothers and sisters, as I conclude this homily, I want to remind you that divine grace, love, and hope are always present in our lives. Let us open our eyes and our hearts to see the presence of God in every moment. Let us feed spiritually on the Eucharist, finding strength and renewal in its mystery. And, as disciples of Jesus, let us bring this transformation to the world, being living witnesses of divine love and grace.
May the Holy Spirit guide and enlighten us on our journey of faith. May it enable us to live according to the teachings of Scripture and to share the love of Christ with everyone around us. May we experience the joy and peace that come from a life in communion with God.
May God bless you abundantly and may the Eucharist be for us the food that sustains and transforms us.
In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
