St Paul
Is it just me or does the church celebrate some important feast days either on the 25th or starting on the 24th of each month? St Paul’s Conversion happens today on the twenty fifth. Beginning his life as Saul, he is known for his persecution of the Christians. He is also known to have had one of the best educations available for his time. And just as important he was born not only Jewish but also Roman. This birth gave him special legal status and rights not afforded other Jewish citizens. He was prepared to really cause havoc with the new Christians and cause them great suffering and pain. And there is no denying he did many terrible things. But as in all things, we must remember that God is in control.
It is unfortunate that some people had to suffer and even lose their lives, but they offered their suffering to God. God in turn used their sufferings to affect the conversion of St Paul. St Paul spread the faith far and wide, but did you ever stop to consider that what is the most important legacy of St Paul are his contributions to the New Testament. God had planned to have a well-educated man develop letters in the New Testament explaining theology and morality. St Paul’s letters, because of his education, teach us today our faith. True, St Paul is sometimes difficult to understand, but in God’s time we have time to learn. Perhaps read a little from I or II Corinthians and reflect on how it is just as pertinent today as it was two thousand years ago.
May the Lord bless you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen