The Road to Damascus

Good Morning, dear reader. Happy Friday. God has seen to it to awaken us this morning, so we are off to a good start! 

We briefly touched on the subject of Saul's conversion yesterday. Today we read the story of that conversion. Now Saul was not a good man. He struck fear in the hearts of those familiar with him. He spent his days seeking out anyone who had anything to do with Jesus and hauling them off to jail. This day was no different. Only now, Saul needed to go to other towns in search of more followers of Jesus. So he and a few cohorts set out for Damascus. Surely in a large city as this, there would be that many more people. As they are walking, Saul is suddenly blinded by a bright light and he hears a voice calling to him "Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?"(v4). The voice is none other than that of Jesus. Sometimes you just need to take matters into your own hands to fix a problem, and this is exactly what Jesus is doing. He blinds Saul, forcing him to rely on his friends to get him to Damascus. When they finally reach the city, Jesus calls on Ananias to go to Saul and see to his conversion. Jesus will work through Ananias in order to achieve this. Ananias isn't so sure of this. He knows how awful Saul is and is doubtful that he can be converted. But Jesus doesn't care. He knows He can save this man and bring him into the fold. So Ananias sets out on his task. Saul is so overwhelmed by it all that he is left no choice but to believe that this had been the work of Jesus. He is baptised and healed. Chalk another one up for "Team Jesus"! 

The study guide in my bible gives the best lesson on this story, so I will share it with you.

If Saul can be converted then surely God can use anything to advance the Divine Plan. Saul had been so diligent and unrelenting in his attack on Jesus' followers that his transformation from being an enemy and persecutor of the Gospel to being one of its most successful advocates is truly remarkable. Each version of this story serves to demonstrate Saul's legitimate role as teacher of the Gospel. He now has the authority to endorse such things as preaching to the Gentiles and excusing non-Jewish Christians from observance of the Jewish Law. 

With our reading in John, we are getting to the end of the Bread of Life discourse. The Jews don't understand that eating Jesus' flesh and drinking His blood isn't to be taken in the literal sense. It is symbolic. Just like when we take Holy Communion in church. The wine and the Eucharist are the symbolic gestures we use to remind us of what Jesus did for us on the cross. This way, we are partaking in what Jesus has offered to us so that we may be one with Him. 

It is truly amazing the ways that Jesus can use situations and people for good. It shows that no matter how bad things get, He can turn it around and use it for something good. We can never fall so far from His grace that we can't be rescued. We just need to be open to it. Once that healing takes place, we are truly transformed in His love. Show how Jesus has transformed you by always being a nice human. 😇

Father Bill's reflection on today's readings: https://youtu.be/aZ9l2lGxKgU

 

Divine Mercy Sunday

Good Evening, dear reader! I hope your day has been blessed. I do apologise for the lateness of this post. We have a lot to work through, so let's get started!! 

Today is Divine Mercy Sunday. Here is a little bit about how Devine Mercy Sunday came about:

"In a series of revelations to St. Maria Faustina Kowalska in the 1930s, our Lord called for a special feast day to be celebrated on the Sunday after Easter. Today, we know that feast as Divine Mercy Sunday, named by Pope St. John Paul II at the canonization of St. Faustina on April 30, 2000. The Lord expressed His will with regard to this feast in His very first revelation to St. Faustina. Divine Mercy Sunday

is NOT a feast based solely on St. Faustina's revelations. Indeed, it is not primarily about St. Faustina — nor is it altogether a new feast. The Second Sunday of Easter was already a solemnity as the Octave Day of Easter. The title "Divine Mercy Sunday" does, however, highlight the meaning of the day." (1) 

In Acts, we see people from all over coming forward to be healed. People are laid in the street, awaiting the arrival of Peter. Word had spread of his healing of the disabled man and now these folks are hoping that even if a shadow of Peter falls on them, they will be healed. And this exactly what happens. But, this is not of Peter's doing. He is the vessel of Christ, granted the power through the Holy Spirit, to be able to heal all those who have come. This was truly an extraordinary day! So many of Jesus's faithful followers were blessed, converted and healed just by being near Peter. 

I will admit that when it comes to disecting the book of Revelation, I find it a bit tricky to understand. One has to know that pretty much everything written in the book cannot be taken literally. The work is entirely symbolic. According to the study guide in my Bible, verse 9 "suggests that John is on the Greek island of Patmos as a punishment for his witness to Jesus.", John is recounting a vision he had. It is this vision that brings him comfort during his punishment. It also is also seen as an encouragement to all who are opressed at this time. 

In this first vision, John is commanded to write what he sees, to the seven churches. He sees Christ in glory, whom he depicts in great imagery, John hears Jesus describing Himself in terms meant to encourage Christians by emphasising His victory over death. (2)

In John's Gospel, we once again see Jesus making an appearance to His followers. It is assumed that they were in Jerusalem at the time. The fact that they were in a locked room when Jesus appeared illustrates the fact that He was not in human form, but neither was He an apparition or a ghost. But His disciples understand that this is the risen Christ who stands before them. In verse 22, it states "He breathed on them and said to them 'Receive the Holy Spirit'" This refers to when God breathed on man and gave him life and now the disciples are given new spiritual life through Jesus Christ. 

"Thomas", this passage is how the phrase "Don't be a doubting Thomas" came to be. It literally means that unless you see something for yourself, you won't believe it. So, again, Jesus appears in a locked room, this time Thomas is present. Jesus allows Thomas to poke around Him so that he will believe that this is Jesus, that He has risen as He promised, and He was here with him now. But, you can see that Jesus is a bit put off by Thomas's doubts. He tells Thomas that the only reason he believed that Jesus was here was because he had seen Jesus, touched His wounds. If it weren't for that, Thomas would still be doubtful, 

This is the whole foundation of our faith. We do not need physical proof for us to believe. That is why it is called faith. Yes, on ocassion we may receive signs or symbols of Jesus in our lives, but we don't need those to believe in Him. We KNOW He lives. We know He is with us always. 

Let us pray for those who do not know the wonder of Jesus Christ. Pray for those whose very lives have become uprooted due to war. Pray that our world can find peace. And, remember, dear reader... be a nice human.😇