FIRST
READING: Acts 9: 1 - 20
1
But Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of
the Lord, went to the high priest
2
and asked him for letters to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if
he found any belonging to the Way, men or women, he might bring them
bound to Jerusalem.
3
Now as he journeyed he approached Damascus, and suddenly a light from
heaven flashed about him.
4
And he fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, "Saul,
Saul, why do you persecute me?"
5
And he said, "Who are you, Lord?" And he said, "I am
Jesus, whom you are persecuting;
6
but rise and enter the city, and you will be told what you are to
do."
7
The men who were traveling with him stood speechless, hearing the
voice but seeing no one.
8
Saul arose from the ground; and when his eyes were opened, he could
see nothing; so they led him by the hand and brought him into
Damascus.
9
And for three days he was without sight, and neither ate nor drank.
10
Now there was a disciple at Damascus named Anani'as. The Lord said to
him in a vision, "Anani'as." And he said, "Here I am,
Lord."
11
And the Lord said to him, "Rise and go to the street called
Straight, and inquire in the house of Judas for a man of Tarsus named
Saul; for behold, he is praying,
12
and he has seen a man named Anani'as come in and lay his hands on him
so that he might regain his sight."
13
But Anani'as answered, "Lord, I have heard from many about this
man, how much evil he has done to thy saints at Jerusalem;
14
and here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call
upon thy name."
15
But the Lord said to him, "Go, for he is a chosen instrument of
mine to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the sons of
Israel;
16
for I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name."
17
So Anani'as departed and entered the house. And laying his hands on
him he said, "Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus who appeared to you
on the road by which you came, has sent me that you may regain your
sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit."
18
And immediately something like scales fell from his eyes and he
regained his sight. Then he rose and was baptized,
19
and took food and was strengthened. For several days he was with the
disciples at Damascus.
20
And in the synagogues immediately he proclaimed Jesus, saying, "He
is the Son of God."
PSALM: Psalms 117: 1 - 2
1
Praise the LORD, all nations! Extol him, all peoples!
2
For great is his steadfast love toward us; and the faithfulness of
the LORD endures for ever. Praise the LORD!
GOSPEL: John 6: 52 - 59
52
The Jews then disputed among themselves, saying, "How can this
man give us his flesh to eat?"
53
So Jesus said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you
eat the flesh of the Son of man and drink his blood, you have no life
in you;
54
he who eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will
raise him up at the last day.
55
For my flesh is food indeed, and my blood is drink indeed.
56
He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me, and I in him.
57
As the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so he
who eats me will live because of me.
58
This is the bread which came down from heaven, not such as the
fathers ate and died; he who eats this bread will live for ever."
59
This he said in the synagogue, as he taught at Caper'na-um.
