St. George, martyr

St. Adalbert, bishop & martyr 

＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊

Acts 9:1-20*

 (…….) There was a disciple in Da­mas­cus

Named Ananias, to whom the Lord called in a vision, “Ana­nias!” He answered, “Here I am, Lord!” Then the Lord said to him, “Go at once to Straight Street and ask, at the house of Ju­das, for a man of Tarsus named Saul.

You will find him pray­ing, for he has just seen in a vision that a man named Ana­nias has come in and placed his hands upon him, to restore his sight.”  Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many sources about this man and all the harm he has done to your saints in Je­ru­salem, and now he is here with authority from the High Priest to arrest all who call upon your name.” 

But the Lord said to him, “Go! This man is my chosen instrument to bring my name to the pagan nations and their kings, and the people of Israel as well. I myself will show him how much he will have to suffer for my name.”

 So Ananias left and went to the house. He laid his hands upon Saul and said, “Saul, my brother, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on your way here, has sent me to you so that you may receive your sight and be filled with Holy Spirit.” Immediately something like scales fell from his eyes and he could see; he got up and was baptized. Then he took food and was strengthened.

 For several days Saul stayed with the disciples at Damascus, and he soon began to proclaim in the synagogues that Jesus was the Son of God.

 

Ps 117 1bc, 2

Go out to all the world and tell the Good News.

 

＊＊＊＊ Gospel ＊＊＊＊

John 6:52-59

 The Jews were arguing among themselves, “How can this man give us flesh to eat?” So Jesus replied, “Truly, I say to you, if you do not eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. The one who eats my flesh and drinks my blood live with eternal life and I will raise him up on the last day.

 My flesh is really food and my blood is drink. Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood, live in me and I in them. Just as the Father, who is life, sent me and I have life from the Father, so whoever eats me will have life from me. This is the bread which came from heaven; unlike that of your ancestors, who ate and later died. Those who eat this bread will live forever.”

 Jesus spoke in this way in Capernaum when he taught them in the synagogue.

 

Gospel Reflection：

The literal-minded will always misunderstand the teachings geared for the health of the spirit. For spiritual language is more often than not, symbolic. It is creative discourse. You need spiritual aesthetics to relish its full import.

Thus, the Jews misunderstand the language of Jesus. They think in a simple and elementary way. The flesh for them is human flesh, while Jesus' words would later find meaning in the Eucharistic banquet. Thus arguments pile up.

Resistance grows until disagreement becomes violent. Jesus knows that it is a futile battle. It is a waste of energy. But He goes on anyway. His Fidelity to His mission is not dependent on public opinion but on His love for the Father who commands him.