These reflections are a result of more than 40 years of ministry as a Roman Catholic priest. Most of these years I spent in the Diocese of Charlotte which covers Western North Carolina. Now I am retired, and live in Medellín, Colombia where I continue to serve as a priest in the Archdiocese of Medellín.
So Ananias went and entered the house; laying his hands on him, he said, "Saul, my brother, the Lord has sent me, Jesus who appeared to you on the way by which you came, that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit." Immediately things like scales fell from his eyes and he regained his sight. He got up and was baptized, and when he had eaten, he recovered his strength. He stayed some days with the disciples in Damascus, and he began at once to proclaim Jesus in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God. (Acts 9:1-20)
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/042823.cfm
The Conversion of Saul (who becomes Paul) is one of the most dramatic events in the Acts of the Apostles and in the life of the early church. It was Ananias, representing the community, who confirmed Paul’s experience of the Risen Lord, helped him to understand it, and then showed him the way to baptism.
As they traveled along the road they came to some water, and the eunuch said, "Look, there is water. What is to prevent my being baptized?" Then he ordered the chariot to stop, and Philip and the eunuch both went down into the water, and he baptized him. (Acts 8:26-40)
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/042723.cfm
The story of Philip and the Ethiopian Eunuch is probably one of the most important in the life of the early church. When the eunuch asks, “What is to prevent my being baptized?”, the answer of course is the Law of God, in which men like him were considered an abomination. Yet, it is the Spirit at work in Philip and in the eunuch, and so Philip baptizes him and the eunuch “continued on his way rejoicing.”
Jesus said to the crowds, "I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me will never hunger, and whoever believes in me will never thirst.” (Jn 6:35-40)
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/042623.cfm
It’s important to note that these words are addressed “to the crowds.” Although the church may rightly be concerned about who approaches the sacrament, the Lord doesn’t have that problem. The Lord invites everyone, not just a chosen few. The Lord invites those no one else would invite.
The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ [the Son of God]. (Mark 1:1)
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/042523.cfm
Why write a gospel? That’s the question the church celebrates today in this feast of the gospel writer, which we call Mark. “According to Mark” is the name the church puts on the shortest of three synoptic gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke-Acts). Although all four gospels were anonymous (we don’t actually know who wrote them since the writers didn’t put their names on them), the church much later put names on them associating them with names of persons mentioned in the Scriptures. What we celebrate today is not so much a person, rather the gospel itself. The “beginning” of the gospel is when we too share the Good News of Jesus Christ [the Son of God] with others, thus becoming the “living gospel for all people to hear.”
Do not work for food that perishes but for the food that endures for eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. (Jn 6:22-29)
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/042423.cfm
"The food . . . which the Son of Man will give you." The Eucharist is the center of our faith—the faith that we proclaim as we echo the words of Saint Paul: When we eat this Bread and drink this Cup, we proclaim your Death, O Lord, until you come again.
