Thamwar Monsang csc
Readings: Acts 9: 1 – 20; Jn 6: 52 – 59
Today, the first reading talks about the conversion of Saul. The man who was on his way to arrest and persecute the followers of Christ becomes a staunch follower of him. The encounter with the risen Lord made him realize his mistakes and gave him a new life and mission. Thus, he underwent conversion, which is the by-product of encountering Jesus. Many times, we also become so wrapped up in our own lives, dilemmas, crises, or even pride that we forget our true calling in life. Hence, like Paul, we are also invited to transform our lives by encountering Jesus.
The gospel also talks about encountering Jesus in the Sacrament of the Eucharist. Just as our physical body requires food to survive, so does our spiritual self needs nourishment to nurture our faith. How do we understand the meaning of Jesus’ invitation to eat his flesh and drink his blood?
It is to assimilate the whole way of thinking and acting of Jesus totally into our very being, the very person of Jesus, such that we may be able to say with Paul, “I live, but not I; it is Christ who lives in me.” Thus, we are called to follow Jesus more closely, whom we eat and drink in the Eucharist. We pray to the Lord to grant us the courage to encounter him in our day-to-day lives so that we may become better instruments in his hands for the work of the kingdom.