Friday of the Third Week of Easter
The 1st reading in today’s mass gives the account of the conversion of Saul. It is a long account. Let us concentrate on three points.
First. The account begins by describing Saul, who participated in the martyrdom of St. Stephen, as a committed zealot. He was intent on blotting out the followers of Christ, who waiting on the road to meet him. “Who are you?” Saul asked. Jesus identified himself as “those whom you are persecuting.” The mystical body.
Second. We saw yesterday how the Holy Spirit pushed Philip to meet the eunuch, today we see Jesus uses the same power to inspire Ananias. Saul is called to bring Jesus to “the Gentiles, kings and children of Israel.” So Ananias “laying his hands on him, said, ’Saul, my brother, Jesus, who appeared to you on the way, sent me regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.”
Resolve: Realizing how unlike Ananias I am in being an instrument to bring Jesus to others, I shall ask the Holy Spirit to live me the desire and the power to amend my laxity. I shall also ask the Holy Spirit to inspire the cardinals voting for our new pope to give them the grace he gave to Ananias.