Friday, May 10, 2019

Friday of the Third Week of Easter

Saint Damien de Veuster (Damien of Molokai), 1840-1889

Readings of the Day
RB: Ch 1:6-13
Mass: Acts 9:1-20; Resp Ps 117; Jn 6:52-59


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

One thing I like about St Paul is that he is a man of extremes. Take for example the first and last line from today's account of his conversion from the Acts of the Apostles. Saul begins by 'breathing murderous threats against the disciples of the Lord.' By the end of the story, 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.' Pope Francis called Paul 'hard-headed but not hard-hearted'. We might not be struck by a light from the sky, blinded, unable to eat or drink, then regain our sight, be baptized, eat and recover our strength, but we could pray for the openness to receive the grace of conversion, in whatever way be it small or large. Let's not forget Ananias-a man who listened to the voice of God and responded with openness to a man who was doing evil things. 


The prayer on our lips and in our heart today might be the one from the Holy Father's homily: For the grace to be docile to the voice of the Lord and for a heart open to the Lord; for the grace not to be afraid to do great things and the sensitivity to pay attention to the small things.


Go out to all the world and tell the Good News. 
(Resp Ps 117)


SAINT DAMIEN DE VEUSTER, PRAY FOR US.

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