His Word Today: A life-changing experience

Detail of 'The Conversion of Saint Paul'
by Michelangelo da Caravaggio

Good morning everyone,

Today, the Church celebrates the Feast of the Conversion of Saint Paul (who is referred to as an Apostle, although he was not part of the twelve that Jesus called).  The details of Saint Paul's conversion are recounted (in the first person) in the Acts of the Apostles.  There, Paul explains that he was born a Jew and educated by one of the most revered and respected of the elders (cf Acts 22:3).  His faith was strong, so strong in fact that he describes himself as zealous for God and he admits that out of that zeal he persecuted the followers of Jesus, binding both men and women and delivering them to prison (Acts 22:4) in the hopes of bringing an end to them.

At a certain point, he even set out for Damascus (Syria) to bring back to Jerusalem in chains for punishment, those there as well (Acts 22:5).  This was serious business! ... but on his way to Damascus, something happened that changed his life forever.  He recounts the details: a great light from the sky suddenly shone around me.  I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me, 'Saul ... why are you persecuting me?' (Acts 22:6-7).  It is interesting to note the degree of detail that he includes, for anyone who has lived through a life-changing experience will forever be able to recount the details (usually with amazing clarity).  It is also interesting to note that up to this point, Saul had no idea who he was encountering.  Until now, the only God he had ever known was the God of Abraham (remember that he was fervently attached to his faith) but this was different.  Whereas he was very well acquainted with the rituals surrounding Jewish prayer, dietary laws etc, this was the first time that he had ever encountered God in such a personal way.  God spoke to him and called him by name!

As further proof that this encounter was not a dream, Paul was given a mission: Get up and go to Damascus (Acts 22:10).  There, he met Ananias, another highly-respected Jew.  Ananias explained Paul's mission: The God of our ancestors designated you to know his will, to see the Righteous One, and to hear the sound of his voice, for you will be his witness before all to what you have seen and heard (Acts 22:14-15).  This commission is strikingly similar to the commission that Jesus gave to the other disciples on the shores of the Sea of Galilee.

Anyone of us who has had a similar experience - of encountering God in a personal way, of hearing him call us by name - will forever be able to tell the story of such a moment.  We are never granted such a moment of grace just so that we can keep it as a nice memory.  Jesus always calls us and gives us a mission: to be his witnesses in the world, to tell others about what we have seen and heard.

Pray today for the courage to be a witness for Jesus in the world today, to tell others about him and all that he has done and continues to do.

Have a great day.