It is 5th May 2017. It is the first Friday of the month dedicated to the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus. The readings are from Acts 9:1-20; and the Gospel from John 6:52-59. The conversion of Saul on the road to Damascus we read in the first reading. The story is so significant for the early church and it is appearing three times in the Acts. The impact of the conversion in the life of Saul had a profound personal life changing experience in his beliefs and life. Saul was blind and ignorant until he experienced Jesus. The destroyer of the Christianity is asked to construct all that he had demolished so far and beyond, by the personal encounter of the Risen Lord Jesus. A persecutor is converted into proclaimer of the Way of Jesus. A sinner is the instrument in the hands of God when he/she is willing to repent. In every conversion, there is an instruction and a command from the Lord to go beyond oneself. We too have become a believer of the Lord so to carry the message of Christ near and far. “Saul began to proclaim Jesus in the synagogues, saying, “He is the Son of God.” (Acts.9:20). He who was chasing and persecuting the believers has become a believer, an apostle of the pagan world. St. Paul got impressed by the unconditional forgiveness and the boundless love of Jesus for him. We are converted by the Lord for the others not just for ourselves only. Every conversion is a beginning of a new bond with the Lord and calling us to make a connection through our service and love we show in our word and deed. The responsorial Psalm praises, “Go out to the whole world; proclaim the Good News.” (Ps.116:15). Jesus clarifies about the bread of life. Jesus wants us all to become the participants of His unconditional love and forgiveness by being the partakers of His life. In order to experience the eternal life, we need experience the Eucharist, the Body and the Blood of our Lord. It is impossible to be faithful to the Way of the Lord without the participation of the Holy Communion. The spiritual stamina and strength is found in abundance in the Holy Eucharist and so “anyone who eats this Bread will live for ever.” (Jn.6:59). May you have a good day.

Leave a Comment