We
have two powerful readings today: the first about the conversion
of St. Paul, and the second about Jesus’ great ultimatum regarding true
“communion” with him.
In
the Acts of the Apostles we see what happens when God has his way
with a young energetic persecutor of the brand new Church of his Son that was
just getting on its feet: God saw into the entire personality and soul of Saul
of Tarsus and simply liked what he saw and he chose him, of all people, to be
the great Apostle to the Gentiles –
indeed to all people to the ends of the
earth! Sometimes God changes our
plans for us no matter how we think we are on a correct and true track: in
the end, his track is always surer and better: because he alone knows how all
the colors of the entire tapestry fit together to make a magnificent work of
art!
In
the gospel passage Jesus, on purpose, makes an extremely
demanding statement: you must eat my
flesh and drink my blood in order to achieve the salvation that you so
desperately long for: there is no way around it (you must be that united with
one another so you can share the merits of my life)! And many leave him at
this point for this was madness in
their estimation! Well, maybe yes in their estimation, but not in God’s. For
those who stayed and believed and were willing, Jesus later would show how this
eating and drinking would not be under unpleasant circumstances: since he had
all power in heaven and earth, he simply took fruits of the earth (bread and
wine) and by speaking words made them really and truly his body and blood (soul
and divinity) so that we, the members of his Body the Church, for all
generations, would be able to eat and drink for our own salvation and spiritual
nourishment and fortification – when the priest speaks the same words over
bread and wine!
We
thank God then today for providing for the transmission of the Word
of God, by an eager young upstart named now Paul of Tarsus; and for the means
to fulfill the command that Jesus gave to eat his flesh and drink his blood in
a very real but palatable sort of way!
Yes, the Bread of Angels tastes sweet to the palate of men; it is their joy
and their hope of future glory!
Amen!
Alleluia!
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