April 19 2024

Friday of the Third Week of Easter

1st Reading – Acts 9:1-20

And Saul, as yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest,

And asked of him letters to Damascus, to the synagogues: that if he found any men and women of this way, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem.

And as he went on his journey, it came to pass that he drew nigh to Damascus; and suddenly a light from heaven shined round about him.

And falling on the ground, he heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?”

He said, “Who art thou, Lord?” The reply came, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.

And he trembling and astonished, said: Lord, what do you want me to do?

And the Lord said to him: Arise, and go into the city, and there it shall be told to you what you must do. Now the men who went in company with him, stood amazed, hearing indeed a voice, but seeing no man.

And Saul arose from the ground; and when his eyes were opened, he saw nothing. But they leading him by the hands, brought him to Damascus.

And he was there three days, without sight, and he did neither eat nor drink.

Now there was a certain disciple at Damascus, named Ananias. And the Lord said to him in a vision: Ananias. And he said: Behold I am here, Lord.

And the Lord said to him: Arise, and go into the street that is called Stait, and seek in the house of Judas, one named Saul of Tarsus. For behold he prays there.

(And he saw a man named Ananias coming in, and putting his hands upon him, that he might receive his sight.)

But Ananias answered: Lord, I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he has done to thy holy ones in Jerusalem.

And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all that invoke thy name.

And the Lord said to him: Go thy way; for this man is to me a vessel of election, to carry my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel.

For I will show him how great things he must suffer for my name’s sake.

And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house. And laying his hands upon him, he said: Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus has sent me, he that appeared to you in the way as you came; that you may receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost.

And immediately there fell from his eyes as it were scales, and he received his sight; and rising up, he was baptized.

And when he had taken meat, he was strengthened. And he was with the disciples that were at Damascus, for some days.

And immediately he preached Jesus in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God.

Responsorial Psalm – Psalms 117:1BC, 2

R. Go out to all the world and tell the Good News
or:
R. Alleluia.

Praise the LORD, all you nations;
glorify him, all you peoples!

R. Go out to all the world and tell the Good News
or:
R. Alleluia.

For steadfast is his kindness toward us,
and the fidelity of the LORD endures forever.

R. Go out to all the world and tell the Good News
or:
R. Alleluia.

Alleluia – John 6:56

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Whoever eats my Flesh and drinks my Blood,
remains in me and I in him, says the Lord.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel – John 6:52-59

The Jews therefore strove among themselves, saying: How can this man give us his flesh to eat?

Then Jesus said to them: Amen, amen I say unto you: Except you eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, you shall not have life in you.

He that eats my flesh, and drinks my blood, has everlasting life: and I will raise him up in the last day.

For my flesh is meat indeed: and my blood is drink indeed.

Whoever eats my Flesh and drinks my Blood remains in me and I in him.

He that eats my flesh, and drinks my blood, abides in me, and I in him. As the living Father has sent me, and I live by the Father; so he that eats me, the same also shall live by me.

This is the bread that came down from heaven. Not as your fathers did eat manna, and are dead. He that eats this bread, shall live for ever.

These things he said, teaching in the synagogue Capernaum.