Friday, 9 May 2025
Friday of the Third Week of Easter
Antipons and Readings on p. 489 of the Daily Missal
First Reading: Acts 9:1-20
In those days:
Saul, still breathing threats and murder
against the disciples of the Lord,
went to the high priest
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.
Now as he journeyed, he approached Damascus,
and suddenly a light from heaven flashed about him.
And he fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him,
“Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?”
And he said, “Who are you, Lord?”
And he said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting;
but rise and enter the city,
and you will be told what you are to do.”
The men who were traveling with him stood speechless,
hearing the voice but seeing no one.
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.
And for three days he was without sight,
and neither ate nor drank.
Now there was a disciple at Damascus named Ananias.
The Lord said to him in a vision, “Ananias.”
And he said, “Here I am, Lord.”
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, and he has seen a man named Ananias
come in and lay his hands on him
so that he might regain his sight.”
But Ananias answered, “Lord,
I have heard from many about this man,
how much evil he has done to your saints at Jerusalem;
and here he has authority from the chief priests
to bind all who call upon your name.”
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;
for I will show him how much he must suffer
for the sake of my name.”
So Ananias 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.”
And immediately something like scales fell from his eyes
and he regained his sight.
Then he rose and was baptized
and took food and was strengthened.
For several days he was with the disciples at Damascus.
And in the synagogues immediately he proclaimed Jesus, saying,
“He is the Son of God.”
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 117:1.2 (R. Mark 16:15)
Gospel: John 6:52-59
At that time:
The Jews disputed among themselves, saying,
“How can this man give us his flesh to eat?”
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;
he who eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life,
and I will raise him up at the last day.
For my flesh is food indeed,
and my blood is drink indeed.
The one who eats my flesh and drinks my blood
abid
