Jan-25: Feast of the conversion of St. Paul
Jan-25: Feast of the conversion of St. Paul
Today is the Feast of the conversion of St Paul - from a ruthless persecutor of early Christians to one of the greatest evangelists and missionaries of all time. In the long history of the Church, it is no exaggeration to say that no conversion has been more consequential than St. Paul’s during his 'epiphany on the road to Damascus'.
What is the significance of this feast for us? God calls each and every one of us to become His witness. We don’t have to travel far to announce Jesus Christ. We can bring Christ to our family, in our workplaces, school and friends. Allow the Lord to use our talents, intelligence even weakness for the greater glory of God. St Paul’s great message to the world is: 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, a commitment that then bears fruit in more “works” than the law can ever contemplate.
St. Paul, named Saul was born at Tarsus (modern day Turkey). He acquired skill as a tent-maker, a work he continued even as an apostle. He was a Pharisee brought up as a strict Jew of the tribe of Benjamin, learned under the esteemed Gamaliel in Jerusalem who gave him a strong foundation in religious doctrine of the school of Pharisees, and later became a violent persecutor of the Christians. He was present at the stoning of St Stephen, the first Christian martyr (Acts 7:58) and took part in the fierce persecution of the Christians that followed.
However while on his way to Damascus around 34 A.D, he was suddenly converted by a miraculous apparition of Our risen Lord Jesus. St. Paul glowing recalled his wonderful conversion, from which have poured forth may blessings, with raptures of gratitude and praise to the Divine and His mercy saying, “I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has strengthened me that he has made me his servant and judged me faithful. I was once a blasphemer, a persecutor, a man filled with arrogance, but I have been treated mercifully.” (1 Timothy 1:12-13)
Saul, whose name now became Paul (signifying a change of heart and fortune) withdrew into the Arabian desert (circa 34-37 A.D.), where he prepared himself for his future mission. During this retreat he was favored with special revelations, Christ appearing to him personally. As Paul himself describes it, Christ sent him to the Gentiles “to open their eyes, that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me” (Acts 26:18). He then went to Jerusalem to consult with Peter (Galatians 1: 18). From a fierce persecutor he became the first Christian theologian and the great Apostle of the Gentiles, making three missionary journeys which brought him and his confidants St Timothy (Bishop of Ephesus) and St Titus (Bishop of Crete), to the great cities of Asia Minor and southern Europe where he made many converts, marking him as the greatest of the early Christian missionaries.
Paul’s letters are the earliest records of the life and history of the early Church. As inspired by the Holy Spirit Paul’s letters are part of the Canon of the New Testament. All together, there are 13 epistles that bear Paul’s name as the author. However, scholars do not believe that he wrote them all. Paul himself was the author of first and second Thessalonians, Galatians, Philippians, first and second Corinthians, Romans and Philemon. The epistles to the Ephesians, Colossians, Titus and first and second Timothy bear Paul’s name but it is believed that they were written by his closest disciples after his death.
Being a Roman citizen he was spared crucifixion and was instead beheaded in Rome around 66 A.D. and is often depicted with a sword. His relics, including part of the column where he was beheaded, are in the Basilica of St. Paul Outside-the-Walls near the Ostian Way. H
His story is told in today's reading as follows in Acts 22:3-16
Paul addressed the people in these words:
“I am a Jew, born in Tarsus in Cilicia,
but brought up in this city.
At the feet of Gamaliel I was educated strictly in our ancestral law
and was zealous for God, just as all of you are today.
I persecuted this Way to death,
binding both men and women and delivering them to prison.
Even the high priest and the whole council of elders
can testify on my behalf.
For from them I even received letters to the brothers
and set out for Damascus to bring back to Jerusalem
in chains for punishment those there as well.
“On that journey as I drew near to Damascus,
about noon a great light from the sky suddenly shone around me.
I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me,
‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?’
I replied, ‘Who are you, sir?’
And he said to me,
‘I am Jesus the Nazorean whom you are persecuting.’
My companions saw the light
but did not hear the voice of the one who spoke to me.
I asked, ‘What shall I do, sir?’
The Lord answered me, ‘Get up and go into Damascus,
and there you will be told about everything
appointed for you to do.’
Since I could see nothing because of the brightness of that light,
I was led by hand by my companions and entered Damascus.
“A certain Ananias, a devout observer of the law,
and highly spoken of by all the Jews who lived there,
came to me and stood there and said,
‘Saul, my brother, regain your sight.’
And at that very moment I regained my sight and saw him.
Then he said,
‘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.
Now, why delay?
Get up and have yourself baptized and your sins washed away,
calling upon his name.’”
What is the significance of this feast for us? God calls each and every one of us to become His witness. We don’t have to travel far to announce Jesus Christ. We can bring Christ to our family, in our workplaces, school and friends. Allow the Lord to use our talents, intelligence even weakness for the greater glory of God. St Paul’s great message to the world is: 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, a commitment that then bears fruit in more “works” than the law can ever contemplate.
St. Paul, named Saul was born at Tarsus (modern day Turkey). He acquired skill as a tent-maker, a work he continued even as an apostle. He was a Pharisee brought up as a strict Jew of the tribe of Benjamin, learned under the esteemed Gamaliel in Jerusalem who gave him a strong foundation in religious doctrine of the school of Pharisees, and later became a violent persecutor of the Christians. He was present at the stoning of St Stephen, the first Christian martyr (Acts 7:58) and took part in the fierce persecution of the Christians that followed.
However while on his way to Damascus around 34 A.D, he was suddenly converted by a miraculous apparition of Our risen Lord Jesus. St. Paul glowing recalled his wonderful conversion, from which have poured forth may blessings, with raptures of gratitude and praise to the Divine and His mercy saying, “I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has strengthened me that he has made me his servant and judged me faithful. I was once a blasphemer, a persecutor, a man filled with arrogance, but I have been treated mercifully.” (1 Timothy 1:12-13)
Saul, whose name now became Paul (signifying a change of heart and fortune) withdrew into the Arabian desert (circa 34-37 A.D.), where he prepared himself for his future mission. During this retreat he was favored with special revelations, Christ appearing to him personally. As Paul himself describes it, Christ sent him to the Gentiles “to open their eyes, that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me” (Acts 26:18). He then went to Jerusalem to consult with Peter (Galatians 1: 18). From a fierce persecutor he became the first Christian theologian and the great Apostle of the Gentiles, making three missionary journeys which brought him and his confidants St Timothy (Bishop of Ephesus) and St Titus (Bishop of Crete), to the great cities of Asia Minor and southern Europe where he made many converts, marking him as the greatest of the early Christian missionaries.
Paul’s letters are the earliest records of the life and history of the early Church. As inspired by the Holy Spirit Paul’s letters are part of the Canon of the New Testament. All together, there are 13 epistles that bear Paul’s name as the author. However, scholars do not believe that he wrote them all. Paul himself was the author of first and second Thessalonians, Galatians, Philippians, first and second Corinthians, Romans and Philemon. The epistles to the Ephesians, Colossians, Titus and first and second Timothy bear Paul’s name but it is believed that they were written by his closest disciples after his death.
Being a Roman citizen he was spared crucifixion and was instead beheaded in Rome around 66 A.D. and is often depicted with a sword. His relics, including part of the column where he was beheaded, are in the Basilica of St. Paul Outside-the-Walls near the Ostian Way. H
His story is told in today's reading as follows in Acts 22:3-16
Paul addressed the people in these words:
“I am a Jew, born in Tarsus in Cilicia,
but brought up in this city.
At the feet of Gamaliel I was educated strictly in our ancestral law
and was zealous for God, just as all of you are today.
I persecuted this Way to death,
binding both men and women and delivering them to prison.
Even the high priest and the whole council of elders
can testify on my behalf.
For from them I even received letters to the brothers
and set out for Damascus to bring back to Jerusalem
in chains for punishment those there as well.
“On that journey as I drew near to Damascus,
about noon a great light from the sky suddenly shone around me.
I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me,
‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?’
I replied, ‘Who are you, sir?’
And he said to me,
‘I am Jesus the Nazorean whom you are persecuting.’
My companions saw the light
but did not hear the voice of the one who spoke to me.
I asked, ‘What shall I do, sir?’
The Lord answered me, ‘Get up and go into Damascus,
and there you will be told about everything
appointed for you to do.’
Since I could see nothing because of the brightness of that light,
I was led by hand by my companions and entered Damascus.
“A certain Ananias, a devout observer of the law,
and highly spoken of by all the Jews who lived there,
came to me and stood there and said,
‘Saul, my brother, regain your sight.’
And at that very moment I regained my sight and saw him.
Then he said,
‘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.
Now, why delay?
Get up and have yourself baptized and your sins washed away,
calling upon his name.’”
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