DAILY- HOMILY

APRIL 23, 2010
FRIDAY 3RD WEEK OF EASTER – YEAR II

ACTS 9:1-20
Meanwhile Saul was still breathing threats to slaughter the Lord's
disciples. He went to the high priest and asked for letters addressed
to the synagogues in Damascus, that would authorize him to arrest and
take to Jerusalem any followers of the Way, men or women, that he
might find. It happened that while he was travelling to Damascus and
approaching the city, suddenly a light from heaven shone all round
him. He fell to the ground, and then he heard a voice saying, 'Saul,
Saul, why are you persecuting me?' 'Who are you, Lord?' he asked, and
the answer came, 'I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. Get up and go
into the city, and you will be told what you are to do.' The men
travelling with Saul stood there speechless, for though they heard the
voice they could see no one. Saul got up from the ground, but when he
opened his eyes he could see nothing at all, and they had to lead him
into Damascus by the hand. For three days he was without his sight and
took neither food nor drink. There was a disciple in Damascus called
Ananias, and he had a vision in which the Lord said to him, 'Ananias!'
When he replied, 'Here I am, Lord,' the Lord said, 'Get up and go to
Straight Street and ask at the house of Judas for someone called Saul,
who comes from Tarsus. At this moment he is praying, and has seen a
man called Ananias coming in and laying hands on him to give him back
his sight.' But in response, Ananias said, 'Lord, I have heard from
many people about this man and all the harm he has been doing to your
holy people in Jerusalem. He has come here with a warrant from the
chief priests to arrest everybody who invokes your name.' The Lord
replied, 'Go, for this man is my chosen instrument to bring my name
before gentiles and kings and before the people of Israel; I myself
will show him how much he must suffer for my name.' Then Ananias went.
He entered the house, and laid his hands on Saul and said, 'Brother
Saul, I have been sent by the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on your
way here, so that you may recover your sight and be filled with the
Holy Spirit.' It was as though scales fell away from his eyes and
immediately he was able to see again. So he got up and was baptized,
and after taking some food he regained his strength. After he had
spent only a few days with the disciples in Damascus, he began
preaching in the synagogues, 'Jesus is the Son of God.'

JOHN 6:52-59
Then the Jews started arguing among themselves, 'How can this man give
us his flesh to eat?' Jesus replied to them: In all truth I tell you,
if you do not eat the flesh of the Son of man and drink his blood, you
have no life in you. Anyone who does eat my flesh and drink my blood
has eternal life, and I shall raise that person up on the last day.
For my flesh is real food and my blood is real drink. Whoever eats my
flesh and drinks my blood lives in me and I live in that person. As
the living Father sent me and I draw life from the Father, so whoever
eats me will also draw life from me. This is the bread which has come
down from heaven; it is not like the bread our ancestors ate: they are
dead, but anyone who eats this bread will live forever. This is what
he taught at Capernaum in the synagogue.

REFLECTION
Once we encounter Jesus, as Paul did, it changes us forever. We have a
change of heart, a change in the way we see things which in turn
determines our behavior. When we encounter Jesus, we have a conversion
experience. We start seeing life around us with the eyes of God.

The proof that we have encountered Jesus can be seen in the way we
relate with God, with others, with our environment or how we value
ourselves. Paul's encounter with Jesus changed him from a dedicated
executioner to a dedicated evangelizer.

An encounter with Jesus leads to a relationship with God, a
relationship that matures into steadfast love. Steadfast love is
constant, never-changing and endures through thick or thin. It is this
steadfast love we share with God which leads to eternal life or a life
with the Father. The eternal life referred to in the Gospel means
having an experience of God, having a relationship with Him . Bread
keeps us alive physically but it is Jesus' flesh and blood that keeps
us alive spiritually and sustains us through our most difficult
moments.

When we have an intimate relationship with God, we are able to submit
our will to His so that His desire is our desire, and we able to
fulfill His dream for us. Paul's intimate relationship with God
motivated him to change the course of his life so he could fulfill
God's dream for him to be His champion. When was my last encounter
with Jesus? How did it change my life? What gives me life? What is the
quality of my spiritual life?

PRAYER REQUESTS
We pray …
… for a deep and profound respect for life, especially for the unborn.
… for the healing and strength:
- Lydia Pe
- Abraham A.
- Jessy
- Jo Marcelo
- Jun Lee
- Cesar Galang
- Helen
- Gemma
- Ely Lara
- Elena Reynosa
… for the personal intentions of
- Josheil D.
- JES
- Mariano M.
- Titong V.
… Birthday:
- Julie Emily
- Carlo Francisco Chong
- Felicidad Buenaflor
- Carol Chua
… for the eternal repose of the souls of
- Virgilio See
- Milagros Maliwat Pasion
Eternal rest grant unto them and may perpetual light shine upon them.
May they and all the dearly departed rest in peace.
… for all the prayer intentions in the MTQ Dailyprayer Diary.
- Birthday: Linda Barol
- Birthday: Melinda P. Yu
- Wedding Anniversary: Rommel & Betty Go
- Wedding Anniversary: Errol & Tessie Perez
- Prayer Intention: William Lim & Family
- In Memoriam (+): Manuel Borja
… for the healing and peace of all families

Finally, we pray for one another, for those who have asked our prayers
and for those who need our prayers the most.

Have a good day!

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