At this moment he is praying, having had a vision of a man called Ananias coming in and laying hands on him to give him back his sight.’
When he heard that, Ananias said, ‘Lord, several people have told me about this man and all the harm he has been doing to your saints in Jerusalem. He has only come here because he holds a warrant from the chief priests to arrest everybody who invokes your name.’ The Lord replied, ‘You must go all the same, because this man is my chosen instrument to bring my name before pagans and pagan kings and before the people of Israel.
You must go all the same
We had a busy weekend at our Church this past Sunday. Of course, there were the 3 normal Sunday Masses plus three little children were Baptized. One was full emersion. The Bishop came and there was a sperate Mass for a big, big Confirmation Class. There was a big strategic meeting for next weekend for the State Convention for the Knights of Columbus that will be here in Tulsa. Our Council is sponsoring the event and we will volunteer.
These are only the highlights of a busy active community of faith. Ananias in his day was part of an emerging faith community that was being persecuted by Saul who was to become Saint Paul. I think we all can identify with Ananias who is willing to do what God wants him to do but is a little bit hesitant. We are afraid to step out because of social rejection or persecution. Saul was willing to do what “he thought” God wanted him to do. He wanted to eradicate and kill a whole population, because they did not have the same vision as Saul as to what God wanted. On the road to Damascus Jesus had that corrective conversation. Sounds a little like our world today.
All of our futures are focused on the Sacraments, but the fuel that inspires us like it did Ananias is the Holy Eucharist. The operative word in John 6 (Matthew 26:26-28 and 14:22-24 and Luke 22), is “is” My body and “is’ My blood. Not a symbol but food. Food to fuel our salvation and convert the world.
We might be hesitant like Ananias, but we have the fuel of the Eucharist and words of scripture to change the world. Please Pray for our Pope Leo as he fights for peace and the downtrodden of the world. Our energy and direction is fed by the Holy Eucharist and the words of our Pope.
God Love You Always
Bob Burford
PS: Please Pray for Pope Leo XIV. Please Pray for Cancer victims and their caregivers. Pray for the conversion of Russia and the salvation of the Ukrainian and Russian people and their soldiers. Pray for the Holy Land. Pray for peace! The impossible could and can happen. (Saint Rita) Never deny God! Pray for justice for immigrants! Pray for justice for our President and all government officials! Pray for Immigrants! Pray for Peace! Pray for the victims listed in the Epstein Files.
