Luigi Versiglia was 12 when he was invited to join a Salesian organization to study. He took up the offer with the condition that they would not make a priest out of him. 

St. John Bosco, also known as Don Bosco, was already in his final years when Luigi entered the Salesian organization. Don Bosco eventually fell sick and passed away. Despite Luigi’s limited interaction with the Salesian founder, he felt a special connection with Don Bosco. Luigi was so inspired by the saint that he said yes to the priesthood. 

The Salesian environment changed Luigi. Although Don Bosco didn’t live long enough to see the transformation of Luigi Versiglia, his influence transformed this young man into a saint who had been totally dedicated to the people under him. We can’t live forever. But we sure can leave a lasting impression with the way we live. 

Live forever by inspiring people to live for God. 

Alvin Fabella (alvinfabella@yahoo.com)

reflect

“Do not put off till tomorrow the good you can do today. You may not have a tomorrow.” (St. John Bosco)

Lord, give me a humble heart. Use me so that I may live a life that will inspire others to pursue an authentic relationship with You. Amen.

Saint Hermas, pray for us.

Ananias is reluctant to present himself before Paul as a believer because Paul persecutes the Church. Ananias is wary of this instruction. However, since the Holy Spirit is speaking to him, Ananias obeys Him. From this, we learn how a small act of obedience can be instrumental in bringing a shift in power as regards the proclamation of the Gospel.

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. 

Responsorial Psalm | Psalm 117:1, 2

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) 

Gospel | John 6:52-59

In today’s Gospel, Jesus specifies the eating of His flesh and drinking of His blood to have eternal life. If you take the Scriptures literally, then the Catholic and Orthodox Churches’ positions on the sacrament of the Eucharist are the only logical and tenable interpretations of this text. More than a symbol, the Eucharist is the real food that Christ has given to sustain us on our faith journey.

Gospel Acclamation

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.

Read the Bible in one year! Read JOSHUA 1 - 4 today.

During Easter Vigil last year, Bree Solstad was baptized into the Catholic Church. She hit the headlines because she was formerly an actress and a producer in the pornographic film industry. Her conversion happened when she visited Italy and encountered the sacred arts. The image of the Blessed Virgin Mary had an impact on her and led her to realize the true value of her life. After her return, she confronted her emptiness and her former life. She sought spiritual guidance, and through God’s grace, she embraced the Catholic faith wholeheartedly.

Conversion comes from God. It does not happen through our efforts alone but primarily through His actions in our lives. We are able to change our ways when we respond to God’s invitation to new life.

Our readings today tell us of this truth. Saul, in the First Reading, was an avid follower of Judaism, which led him to persecute the disciples of Jesus. He even extended his effort by crossing the border and pursuing them in Damascus. However, Jesus encountered him along the road to Damascus. There, Jesus introduced Himself to Saul and chose him to become a bearer of the Gospel to the Gentiles. Saul was changed because he responded to Jesus’ invitation. Also, in our Gospel, in Jesus’ desire for us to share His life and to remain in us, He offers His Body and Blood as our food and drink. Our response is to eat and drink His Body and Blood to share in His eternal life.

Conversion is a cooperation between God and man. God invites us, and we respond. God offers, and we accept. God moves in mysterious ways. 

Fr. Eugene Fadul

reflection questions

What is God’s invitation to you at this point in your life? What is your response? 

Lord, my life is an ongoing conversion to You and Your ways. May I remain open to Your leading. Amen.

Today, I pray for: _______________________________________