“and I will show him what he will have to suffer for my name.” – Acts 9:16

      Despite being a writer, I’m always at a loss for words when addressing those who are suffering. I cringe when the best I can muster up is the question, “How are you?” when it’s obvious that they are not doing well at all.

           So it was extremely helpful when I came across an article written by a mother who had lost her 17-year-old son in a terrible accident. She talked about her heartbreak and how, in her experience, she would prefer people to approach her. She made interesting points such as how she wished she didn’t have to hear the phrase “time to move on” from others when she simply wasn’t ready yet, or how some people would nervously avoid talking about her son altogether.

          “When I speak of his name or relive memories, relive them with me, don’t shrink away. If you’ve never met him, ask me about him. One of my greatest joys is talking about my son,” she wrote.       

         While pain may prolong, valuable memories still exist and help in the healing process. They may be a lesson, a way for us to appreciate what we have, or they can also spark moments of happiness and inspire others who are going through the same experience. Eleanore Teo (elyo.lee@gmail.com)

Reflection: How can others help you heal through a crisis?

Heavenly Father, heal me in the light of my suffering and be my instrument of peace.

St. Hilary of Aries, pray for us.

Saul was a hardcore Jew and maybe God chose to convert him to Christianity to show that anything is possible with Him. God can do anything, including turning around the life of Saul, Christianity’s greatest persecutor, and make him one of the greatest preachers and advocates of the Church.

1 Saul, still breathing murderous threats against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest 2 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. 3 On his journey, as he was nearing Damascus, a light from the sky suddenly flashed around him. 4 He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” 5 He said, “Who are you, sir?” The reply came, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. 6 Now get up and go into the city and you will be told what you must do.” 7 The men who were traveling with him stood speechless, for they heard the voice but could see no one. 8 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. 9 For three days he was unable to see, and he neither ate nor drank. 10 There was a disciple in Damascus named Ananias, and the Lord said to him in a vision, “Ananias.” He answered, “Here I am, Lord.” 11 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, 12 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.” 13 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. 14 And here he has authority from the chief priests to imprison all who call upon your name.” 15 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, 16 and I will show him what he will have to suffer for my name.” 17 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.” 18 Immediately things like scales fell from his eyes and he regained his sight. He got up and was baptized, 19 and when he had eaten, he recovered his strength. He stayed some days with the disciples in Damascus, 20 and he began at once to proclaim Jesus in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God.

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

1 Praise the Lord, all you nations; glorify him, all you peoples! (R) 2 For steadfast is his kindness toward us, and the fidelity of the Lord endures forever. (R)

Jesus claimed that He is the Son of God. John’s Gospel shows the divinity of Jesus because he wants to give different images of Jesus for us to reflect on in our spiritual journey.

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

52 The Jews quarreled among themselves, saying, “How can this man give us his Flesh to eat?” 53 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. 54 Whoever eats my Flesh and drinks my Blood has eternal life, and I will raise him on the last day. 55 For my Flesh is true food, and my Blood is true drink. 56 Whoever eats my Flesh and drinks my Blood remains in me and I in him. 57 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. 58 This is the bread that came down from heaven. Unlike your ancestors who ate and still died, whoever eats this bread will live forever.” 59 These things he said while teaching in the synagogue in Capernaum.

think: How would you describe your daily “spiritual diet” – junk food, leftovers, meat and potatoes, or pure bread and wine? Why?

Read the Bible in one year Deuteronomy 8-11

T O D A Y’S BLESSING LIST

thank You, Lord, for: ______________________________________________________

RISE TO THE OCCASION

Our readings today indicate a kind of “leveling up” from previous days. In the First Reading, the many different events arrive at their climax in the conversion of Saul. You can try reading the Acts of the Apostles as though it were a history book, replete with exciting action and adventure.

         For today’s Gospel, in the meantime, we have the final installment of Jesus’ Bread of Life Discourse. All that remains is just a conclusion or an epilogue tomorrow.

     Now there is a hint of the people’s reaction. They were divided and quarreling at what seemed to them a recommendation of cannibalism by Jesus. Instead of a panic-stricken plea and clarification, or a frantic attempt at watering down or sugarcoating His doctrine to make it more appealing to His divided audience, Jesus hardly backtracked in His insistence. In fact, He even reiterated it all the more, with greater boldness and emphasis.

       We answered in the Responsorial Psalm: “Go out to all the world and tell the Good News.” In a sense, that is what Jesus did, even in the face of hardhearted rejection. In another sense, that is also what Paul, the Apostle to the Gentiles, did, notwithstanding his past. Either instance serves as an example and challenge to us, as we too receive the same command.

       May we rise to the occasion and answer the call — whatever our past may have been, whatever our future will bring. Fr. Martin Macasaet, SDB

----------- REFLECTION QUESTION ----------

Are you ready to accept the challenges from God as you go through your life’s ups and downs?

Lord God, You call and command me to be an agent of Your mission. Whatever lies ahead, and no matter what there may have been, let me be Your obedient servant. Amen.