SAUL, SAUL, WHY DO YOU PERSECUTE ME?
SAUL’S CONVERSION
Now Saul, still breathing murderous threats against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, that, if he should find any men or women who belonged to the Way, he might bring them back to Jerusalem in chains.
On his journey, as he was nearing Damascus, a light from the sky suddenly flashed around him.
He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” He said, “Who are you, sir?”
The reply came, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. Now get up and go into the city and you will be told what you must do.” The men who were traveling with him stood speechless, for they heard the voice but could see no one. Saul got up from the ground, but when he opened his eyes he could see nothing;* so they led him by the hand and brought him to Damascus. ACTS 9:1-8
COMMENTARY
Paul had acquired a zealot’s hatred of all Jesus stood for, as he began to harass the Church: “…entering house after house and dragging out men and women, he handed them over for imprisonment” Acts 8:3.
Now Paul himself was “entered.” A great light illumined him. When Jesus said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting” Acts 9:5 Jesus was mysteriously identifying Himself with the people Saul was running down like criminals. At that moment Paul realized a mysterious transcendent relationship between the eternal and living Christ and his followers. Jesus lives and is present in them and they live in him.
Paul’s great message to the world was: You are saved entirely by God, not by anything you can do. Saving faith is the gift of total, free, personal and loving commitment to Christ. The word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 1 Corinthians 1:17-18
Conversion by faith in Christ is a turning to the obedience of Christ, and a turning away from sin. St. Paul has captured the eternal struggle that we all go through. Paul laments in Romans 7:15 – “For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing that I hate.” Paul then cries out, “Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? Like St. Paul we know the answer to that question.
CONCLUSION
Conversion is a life-long operation, turning from sin back to Jesus Christ. St. Paul continually reminds us of the moral imperative – Stop sinning! I Corinthians 15:34. Remember the day will come, at the hour of our death, when we will face judgment. Romans 2:5
Paul says, “I am the least of the apostles, unfit to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the Church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain” 1 Cor. 15:9-10 Paul acknowledges that he saved by the grace of God. God alone can save us! Good works are necessary but those are the result of saying yes to God’s grace.
Life-long conversion requires repentance. Repentance conveys a sense of regret, sorrow, grief, or remorse for one’s sins, that leads someone to conversion. We call this conversion, metanoia, a turning away, a change in mind, for the person turns away from sin and turns towards God. To be transformed requires an ongoing effort on our part. This outward expression reflects what springs from within.
The vocation to be an apostle is based not on any human merit says Paul, who considered himself “the least” and “unfit,” but on the infinite goodness of God, who chose him and entrusted him with the ministry. Converting means allowing the Lord to live and work in us.
“A great light from the sky suddenly shone around me.” Acts 22:6. The light of the risen Christ transformed Paul and impelled him to illumine the world by the light of the Gospel. This Scripture quote reminds me of a trip my wife and I took to Rome in the Jubilee Year 2000.
I was looking to avail myself of the Sacrament of Reconciliation if I could find a confessor that spoke English in one of the confessionals. Of course I was tempted to go to someone that spoke only Spanish but I resisted.
Finding a confessor that spoke English, I made my confession and received absolution. Then leaving the confessional, I heard the most beautiful singing and organ playing but sight showed me no one was singing or playing any music. I smiled to myself, gave thanks, and prayed my penance. I will remember that “illumination” at the Basilica of St. Paul forever. “Only by the Grace of God,” 1 Corinthians 15:10
BASILICA OF ST. PAUL OUTSIDE THE WALLS ROME, ITALY
PRAYER
Lord Jesus, I believe you are the Son of God and my Savior. Thank you for dying on the cross for my sins. Please forgive my sins and give me the gift of eternal life. I ask you to come into my life and heart. I want to serve you always with my whole mind, my whole heart, and my whole strength
REPENT AND BELIEVE IN THE GOSPEL
MARK 1:15
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