Acts 9:1-20 / John 6:52-59
Not many persons have the name "Ananias". At least there was none from those recently baptized at Easter who had chosen that name..
"Ananias" means that the Lord is gracious or that the Lord is compassionate.
Well, the Ananias that we heard of in the 1st reading might had understood what his name meant but he will soon find out that the Lord is indeed gracious and compassionate.
The Lord was sending him to Saul, and he was trying to put up a resistance and giving reasons why he could not go.
But when the Lord commands, how can one resist or even reason out with Him? "You must go all the same" was the Lord's reply to Ananias.
And in going to Saul, Ananias also discovered the depths of the graciousness and compassion of God.
And his initial resistance and reluctance gave way to acceptance and it was he who baptized Saul, who would become Paul, the great missionary and apostle to the Gentiles.
Jesus said in the gospel that anyone who eats His flesh and drinks His blood has eternal life and He will raise him up on the last day.
Jesus will also raise us up from our resistance and reluctance to do His will, just as He raised up Ananias and sent him to Saul.
And just as Ananias saw the graciousness and compassion of the Lord, may we who partake of the Body and Blood of Jesus also grow in grace and compassion.