Gracious is the Lord in the Way

Greetings on this the Friday of the Third Week of Easter
Readings: Acts 9:1-20; PS 117:1bc, 2; Jn 6:52-59

Note: An interesting web page to read on this name is https://www.abarim-publications.com/Meaning/Ananias.html It will give you more spiritual food for thought.

Ananias which means Yah Has Been Gracious.

Ananias is instructed by the Lord in a vision to lay hands upon, heal, Saul who has had a most intense meeting with the Lord. This healing of the scales of the eyes was the visual part of the healing by the Holy Spirit who healed the vision of Saul’s heart.

Saul was then baptized.

Considering the activities of Saul and companions regarding those who follow the Way, Ananias was hesitant to perform the task and asked for clarification.

Ananias was given the most difficult task of talking to the most violently opposed to the Way.
Yet, Ananias, Yah has been Gracious, knew the mandate of Christ: Go out to all the world and tell the Good News.

Gospel Portion Today
The Jews quarreled among themselves, saying,
“How can this man give us his Flesh to eat?”
Jesus said to them,
“Amen, amen, I say to you,
unless you eat the Flesh of the Son of Man and drink his Blood,
you do not have life within you.

Jesus is the Bread of Life.
The one who feeds on me will have life because of me, says the Lord.

Returning to Paul, we don’t know exactly when but Saul, now Paul, was given Holy Eucharist.
See 1 Corr 11:23-26.

For I received from the Lord what I also handed on to you, that the Lord Jesus, on the night he was handed over, took bread, and, after he had given thanks, broke it and said, “This is my body that is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.”

In the same way also the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the death of the Lord until he comes.

Gracious is the Lord in the Way.

As part of my evangelization role I spend time on Social Media.

The thoughts and impulses of millions are out there. Some wanting this thing or that. I deal with the “Rad Trad” ultra-right Catholics, the Usurpers of the Faith who are Republicans of the Insurrection Party, and a thousand variety of, some would call, people with left wing agendas.

All of them need an Ananias. One who isn’t afraid to dialog and be flogged for the Way. And Ananias has one goal that is to introduce people anew to the Way and the Person of Jesus in baptism and in the Breaking of the Bread.

Gracious is the Lord in the Way.

Peace be with you,
Deacon Gerry