Friday of the 3rd week of Easter, April 19, 2024
Acts 9:1-20; Ps 117:1 bc, 2; Jn 6:52-59
One of my grandsons will be receiving his First Communion this year. Mother’s Day weekend to be exact. We asked his parents what a good gift would be, and they said a saint medal of the saint he is named after. We found a place to make it, and they said, “Oh, you ordered a two-sided medal, what would you like to have engraved on the backside?” Not having any ideas, we asked my daughter-in-law what she thought should go on it. She replied with John 6:53-56. It did not dawn on me until I sat down to read the Gospel for today and it was from this reading that she picked the verses. The more I reflected on it, the more I realized it was the perfect scripture reference to put on the back. While only the chapter and verse numbers would be there, it would be a constant reminder of the reason he receives Holy Communion. Also, knowing him, he will frequently look at it, and I am sure he will ask a dozen times what the verses are; but then quickly, he will have it memorized. The true meaning of what it is to eat His flesh, and drink His blood, will never be forgotten by that 8-year-old. Every time he grabs onto that medal, he will be reminded of not only his Saint but the true meaning of Christ’s gift to us of everlasting life. I pray Jesus becomes personal in my grandson’s life, and he has a conversion of heart that will last for all time.
In our first reading, Saul, who becomes St. Paul, had a dramatic conversion. Here he was persecuting the Christians, or the Way, as they were called, and suddenly Jesus appeared to him. If that is not enough, Jesus tells Ananias that Saul is Jesus’ chosen instrument to spread the Gospel to the rest of the world. If it were not for Saul’s conversion and Ananias answering Jesus’s call, we would not have the wonderful teachings and stories about St. Paul. St. Paul’s love for Jesus came from that sudden and personal interaction he had with Jesus. But it did not stop there, Paul was relentless in telling everyone about Jesus and how important it was to receive Him, body, and blood. It is through that communion with Jesus that we have everlasting life.
Think back on that moment that Jesus became personal in your life, and if you do not feel that has happened yet, take some time, and meditate about it. Jesus wants us all to be His personal friend. Just like the encounter He had with Paul, Jesus wants to be part of our lives, and He wants us to be part of His. Paul got that, so much so that the words “for from the fullness of the heart the mouth speaks” were constantly on Paul’s mind and lips. We too can have that same amount of love for Jesus. Think back to your first real encounter with Jesus and remember that love. Like Paul and Ananias, and an 8-year-old boy, clutching his medal thinking about Jesus’ gift of the Eucharist to him, we too can be ready to do what God wants us to do, but mostly, to be His personal friend.
Saint James Catholic Church 