On January 25, the church celebrates the conversion of Paul. His name at the time was Saul of Tarsus, and he was on his way to Damascus to find and arrest in the synagogue the followers of the Way and bring them back to Jerusalem. Acts 9 tells the story. He was blinded by a sudden light and fell to the ground, hearing the voice of Jesus saying, “Why are you persecuting me?”
He was led by his companions to the home of Ananias. In spite of his initial fear for his own safety and that of other Christians in his community, Ananias laid his hands on Saul. Paul (Saul’s new name) immediately regained is sight and was baptized.
Paul had been born again, his faith and his life going in an entirely new direction. He stayed with the disciples there for several days and “immediately began to proclaim Jesus in the synagogues.” He went on to become the missionary evangelist of the Way in several countries. His letters to the churches were widely shared, being the first Christian scriptures early believers had then. The Gospels were written decades later.
Some Christians, like Paul, have had a “born again” experience, a dramatic epiphany that prompts a new faith and redirection of one’s life. Others gradually grow into a life of faith through acculturation in a faith community, their own intimate experiences with God, and participation in the sacraments. In either case, true faith is evidenced in the degree to which a person strives to follow the teachings of Christ and to share his love (James 2:14-17).
Prayer:
O God, who taught the whole world through the preaching of the blessed Apostle Paul, draw us, we pray, nearer to you through the example of him whose conversion we celebrate today, and so make us witnesses to your truth in the world. Amen.
Improbable Benedictine 