Daily Scripture Reflection & Prayer: May 9, 2025

Friday of the 3rd Week of Easter

Scripture Text:  Acts 9:1-20

Saul, still breathing murderous threats against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, that, if he should find any men or women who belonged to the Way, he might bring them back to Jerusalem in chains.

On his journey, as he was nearing Damascus, a light from the sky suddenly flashed around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, "Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?" He said, "Who are you, sir?" The reply came, "I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. Now get up and go into the city and you will be told what you must do." The men who were traveling with him stood speechless, for they heard the voice but could see no one. Saul got up from the ground, but when he opened his eyes, he could see nothing; so, they led him by the hand and brought him to Damascus. For three days he was unable to see, and he neither ate nor drank.

There was a disciple in Damascus named Ananias, and the Lord said to him in a vision, "Ananias." He answered, "Here I am, Lord." The Lord said to him, "Get up and go to the street called Straight and ask at the house of Judas for a man from Tarsus named Saul. He is there praying, and in a vision he has seen a man named Ananias come in and lay his hands on him, that he may regain his sight." But Ananias replied, "Lord, I have heard from many sources about this man, what evil things he has done to your holy ones in Jerusalem. And here he has authority from the chief priests to imprison all who call upon your name." But the Lord said to him, "Go, for this man is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before Gentiles, kings, and children of Israel, and I will show him what he will have to suffer for my name."

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.

Breaking the text open – background and summary:

The first reading for today is from Acts of the Apostles and recounts the conversion of Paul on the road to Damascus, his Christian baptism, and the beginning of his apostolic ministry. Jesus’ words to Paul, “Why are you persecuting me?” greatly impacted Paul’s writings and preaching and brought us our current understanding of the Body of Christ.

Meditating on the text with personal questions:

How have I encountered Christ in my lifetime? How has He called out to me?

Praying:

LORD, Almighty Father, You sent your only-begotten Son, Jesus Christ, to take on our human nature, and in our midst to reveal your great love for us and the need to seek You and your will for us. In accordance with your will for our salvation, He gave Himself and His life upon the cross of Calvary to redeem us of our sins though He himself was without sin. He commanded us, the night before He died, to love one another as He has loved us. Through His death and resurrection, He conquered sin and death for us. Send your Spirit to awaken fully in us the love that is the source of our very being and creation and to stir that love and increase that love to overflowing so that it might spill out, beyond us, and touch the lives and hearts of our sisters and brothers in His name. Grant that we may recognize your divine will and walk “the way” that He taught us, ever growing and strengthening the bonds of love with You and one another. We ask this in the name of your Son, Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with You and the Spirit, one LORD, forever and ever. Amen.