WHAT SHALL I DO LORD…

PAULS CONVERSION

Acts 22:3-16

3 “I am a Jew, born at Tarsus in Cilicia, but brought up in this city at the feet of Gamali-el, educated according to the strict manner of the law of our fathers, being zealous for God as you all are this day.4 I persecuted this Way to the death, binding and delivering to prison both men and women, 5 as the high priest and the whole council of elders bear me witness. From them I received letters to the brethren, and I journeyed to Damascus to take those also who were there and bring them in bonds to Jerusalem to be punished. 6 “As I made my journey and drew near to Damascus, about noon a great light from heaven suddenly shone about me.
7 And I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me, ‘Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?’ 8 And I answered, ‘Who are you, Lord?’ And he said to me, ‘I am Jesus of Nazareth whom you are persecuting.’
9 Now those who were with me saw the light but did not hear the voice of the one who was speaking to me.10 And I said, ‘What shall I do, Lord?’ And the Lord said to me, ‘Rise, and go into Damascus, and there you will be told all that is appointed for you to do.’11 And when I could not see because of the brightness of that light, I was led by the hand by those who were with me, and came into Damascus.
12 “And one Ananias, a devout man according to the law, well spoken of by all the Jews who lived there,
13 came to me, and standing by me said to me, ‘Brother Saul, receive your sight.’ And in that very hour I received my sight and saw him.
14 And he said, ‘The God of our fathers appointed you to know his will, to see the Just One and to hear a voice from his mouth;15 for you will be a witness for him to all men of what you have seen and heard.16 And now why do you wait? Rise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on his name.’

Mark 16:15-18

15 And he said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to the whole creation.16 He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.
17 And these signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues; 18 they will pick up serpents, and if they drink any deadly thing, it will not hurt them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will recover.”  

MEDITATION

LUKE THE EVANGELIST present the first-hand testimony of Paul’s sanctioned mission to persecute the Church, followed by his encounter with Christ; his state of blindness and his willingness to heed God’s request that he submit and present himself to one of the leaders of the Church in Demascus, who would bring him into the fold, the body of Christ.

Upon Paul’s fall, he instinctively knew that his blind hatred of God has led to his fall. “What shall I do Lord,” is a self-evident question that Paul needed and desired to change the trajectory of his life, which required that he present Himself to a disciple of Jesus. Ananias did not judge Paul based on his history, but welcomed him as a brother into the Church and without any further ado, restored his sight and “washed away” his deadly sins by means of the Sacrament of baptism! We notice that in this instance Ananias and possibly those who (v9) accompanied Paul, were his sponsors and witnesses at his baptism.

THE GOSPEL READING: Below is an excerpt on the practice of baptism recorded in second century document, the ‘didache,’ or teaching or catechism that was discovered in Istanbul arround 1873AD 

Conserning baptism: baptize in this way. Having instructed him in all of these teachings, baptize the catechumen in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, in running water. But if you do not have running water, then baptize in other water. And if you cannot in cold water, use warm. But if you have neither, then pour water on the head three times, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. And before the baptism, let both the baptizer and the catechumen fast, and also any others who are able. And be sure that the catechumen fasts a day or two before.

The gospel reading describe our Lords appearance after His ressurection and the mandate He gave to the twelve about the nessesity that they baptise anyone who is drawn to, and believe His message of salvation. Sacred scripture contains no qualification(s) such as the age or the physical or mental disposition of a person, save for the candidate or their sponsor(s) desire and approval that they be baptised. Anyone who teach otherwise misrepresent and contradict Sacred Scripture and Sacred Tradition.

LET US PRAY: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

Commentary: Henry R SYLVESTER Note: The daily scripture readings are taken from the Roman Missal which the Catholic Church use in the daily Celebration of the Holy Eucharist throughout the world.Some weekly readings may differ because of the celebration of local feast days.