Liturgical Colour : White
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, today the Church celebrates the Feast of the Conversion of St. Paul the Apostle, marking the moment when one of the fiercest and most brutal enemies of the early Christians, Saul the young Pharisee, had a total and complete conversion of heart and mind, and turned into one of Christianity’s greatest champion and defender, as St. Paul the Apostle, Apostle to the Gentiles and a very important part of the early Church and its missions in spreading the Good News of God. Through what we have heard of the conversion and calling of St. Paul to be a disciple and follower of Christ, all of us are also reminded of the great compassion and mercy of God which have always been readily made available for everyone, that even the greatest of sinners can be great saints and servants of God.
In our first reading today, we heard from the Acts of the Apostles, in which the account of the moment of St. Paul’s conversion was told to us. St. Paul was known as Saul in his youth, as a fanatical and very passionate Pharisee, who spent a lot of his time in trying to persecute the early Church and the Christian communities in Judea, Galilee and even beyond. Saul was misguided by his youthful zeal and fanaticism, likely influenced by the extreme ideals even among the Pharisees, who zealously guarded the Law of God and their own interpretation of the Law, and who mostly saw anyone who preached in different manner as being unworthy and even sinful in their ways against the Lord.
That was how Saul came to be such a great persecutor and enemy of the earliest Christians and the Church, causing untold sufferings and grievances among the faithful, as he went on his many zealous campaigns and attacks against the early Christians in various places, striking fear and sorrow amongst so many of God’s beloved and faithful people. However, Saul was chosen by God to be His follower and disciple, and in His own words, to be His tool and to be the one to proclaim His Good News and truth to the nations. And that was how God came to Saul on the way to Damascus, as He revealed Himself to him, and told him that everything which he had believed and done up to that time, were wrong and misguided.
For Saul, who was such a great sinner, and who had committed so many atrocities against Christians, to be called by God to be His servant, and to do so many wonderful and great deeds henceforth, is a clear reminder for all of us, that God calls everyone, regardless whether they are good or evil, or whether they have committed great sins, or only small and venial sins. There is always place for all of us in the Kingdom of God, and all of us are in fact equally beloved by God. What matters is that, each and every one of us must embrace God’s love and mercy, and allow Him to transform us all from people of darkness into the people of His light, to enter once again into His Holy Presence and to be filled with His grace.
Saul repented from his many sins and turned away from all of his wickedness and evils, listening to God, opening his mind and heart to welcome the Lord, that through Him and the Holy Spirit that he had received, he might be empowered to walk ever more faithfully henceforth in the path of righteousness and grace. His conversion was shown to all, and everyone was indeed astonished and amazed, among Christians and the Jewish people alike, in how his attitudes and beliefs changed almost completely, from a great enemy of Christians to be the greatest defender of the Christian faith. His change of name from Saul to Paul, much like that of Abram to Abraham, and Jacob to Israel, among others, signified this adoption of a new way of life and calling.
St. Paul the Apostle was sent to be the one to reach out to the Gentiles, or the non-Jewish people, and he fervently believed, even against the opposition of some of the believers who thought otherwise, that God’s grace and salvation are extended to everyone, even to the non-Jewish people, who do not have to obey the numerous Jewish practices and customs. He tirelessly committed himself to the missions and causes entrusted to him, going on many missionary journeys and expeditions, from cities to cities, towns to towns, places to places to expand the reach of the Christian faith, and to proclaim God’s salvation to more and more people. His many Epistles or letters helped to inspire and guide many of the faithful throughout the various regions as well.
Brothers and sisters in Christ, the conversion of St. Paul the Apostle reminds us all that no one is beyond God’s grace and love, and His power and forgiveness can bring us out even from the darkest and deepest depth of our sins and waywardness, as long as we are willing to commit ourselves to this path of reconciliation and forgiveness. St. Paul showed us all that each and every one of us as Christians have the potential for great things in whatever we do, in the various areas of our lives and the commitments and responsibilities that we have in life. What matters is for us all to listen to the Lord and to respond to His call with faith.
In our Gospel passage today, we heard of the Lord Jesus telling all of His disciples that He was sending all of them to go forth and to proclaim the truth of God, and the Good News of His salvation, to the peoples of all the nations. He reminded them all of the responsibilities and the missions that they had been entrusted with, the commission to reach out to all the people of all the nations to call them to embrace God’s love and truth, and to baptise them all in the Name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. At the same time, He also reassured them that they would be protected and guided throughout their journey, and they would be taken care of. In the end, even while they might have to suffer, being persecuted and even martyred, as what had happened to St. Paul himself, therefore, each and every one of us are also reminded that we should continue to trust in the Lord and put our faith in Him, while doing what He has commanded and entrusted to us to do.
Are we all therefore willing to follow the Lord and to entrust ourselves to the path which He has shown us, just like what St. Paul the Apostle had done with his whole life and ministry? Let us all do our part wherever and whenever possible, in all the things we say and do, so that we can always do our best in proclaiming God and His truth through our every words, actions and deeds. May the Lord be with us always, and may He empower each and every one of us in every opportunities, and our every good efforts and endeavours, that we too can be His great and worthy tools and missionaries like St. Paul the Apostle had been. Amen.
petercanisiusmichaeldavidkang 