Meanwhile Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any who belonged to the Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. Now as he was going along and approaching Damascus, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, ‘Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?’ He asked, ‘Who are you, Lord?’ The reply came, ‘I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. But get up and enter the city, and you will be told what you are to do.’ The men who were travelling with him stood speechless because they heard the voice but saw no one. Saul got up from the ground, and though his eyes were open, he could see nothing; so they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus. For three days he was without sight, and neither ate nor drank.
Now there was a disciple in Damascus named Ananias. The Lord said to him in a vision, ‘Ananias.’ He answered, ‘Here I am, Lord.’ The Lord said to him, ‘Get up and go to the street called Straight, and at the house of Judas look for a man of Tarsus named Saul. At this moment he is praying, and he has seen in a vision a man named Ananias come in and lay his hands on him so that he might regain his sight.’ But Ananias answered, ‘Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much evil he has done to your saints in Jerusalem; and here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who invoke your name.’ But the Lord said to him, ‘Go, for he is an instrument whom I have chosen to bring my name before Gentiles and kings and before the people of Israel; I myself will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name.’ So Ananias went and entered the house. He laid his hands on Saul and said, ‘Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on your way here, has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.’ And immediately something like scales fell from his eyes, and his sight was restored. Then he got up and was baptized, and after taking some food, he regained his strength. Acts 9:1-19.
God has a really funny way of doing business. He choses a murderer with a speech impediment to lead His people out of Egypt, an ethically challenged chiseler to bear the name of the nation of Israel, and a murderous philanderer to unite the kingdom of His people. In today’s reading, Luke reports that despite the resurrection, Saul continued to breathe threats and murder against those who followed the Way. Let’s be clear about this: Saul was engaged in genocide against those who followed Christ.
And so, had the Lord asked me about his selection of Saul, like Ananias I would have asked Him, “Are you really sure this is the guy?” You see, not much in Saul’s life suggested that he would be the person most responsible for spreading the message of Jesus throughout the Empire. God, however, had something remarkable in mind. God knew something we really struggle against: people can change.
While en route to Damascus to continue in his campaign of annihilation, Saul (or Paul, in the Greek form of the name) encounters the risen Lord. Again, the reading meshes well into our Epiphany theme, as Scripture records that he was surrounded by a light from heaven.
This passage further reinforces our understanding of the Church as the body of Christ. Saul, of course, was persecuting the early Church. Jesus didn’t ask, “Why are you messing with my church?” Rather, Jesus asks Saul, “Why are you persecuting me?” Already, in the book of Acts, the Church is identified therefore with the body of Christ.
After his post-resurrection encounter with Jesus, Paul loses his sight for three days. This story fits very well within an idea we’ve already encountered, the distinction between physical observation and spiritual insight. And Paul must lose his physical powers of insight before he can gain a genuine spiritual vision. God was reshaping Paul’s understanding of the Lord and his entire world-vision. It’s as though this transformation, this conversion, required a complete reboot of his system. Paul must have gone through a terrible loneliness during this time. As Bonhoeffer once observed, we are never more isolated than we are in becoming a Christian, but the alienation occurs for the sake of a new community.
For most of us, our conversion experience will not look like this. Although I’ve run across them now and then, most folks will not find their conversion so complete or so dramatic. I’ve found that my conversion takes place in small increments, daily, through several small decisions to follow Jesus’ example, through self-denial and participation in the sacramental life with which the Church has blessed us, and mostly through God’s redeeming grace.
And yet, God chose Saul–this monster, this antagonist and enemy of the early Church. God saw within him “an instrument to bring my name before gentiles and kings and before the people of Israel.” It’s worth noting that Saul’s conversion required more of him than simply changing his mind about things. Saul’s conversion, like ours, carried along with it a call and a vocation. Rather than simply offering a new way of looking at things, his conversion required an apostolic commitment as Saul would be sent out to serve in the world. Ours does too.
So today, as we celebrate the Feast of St. Paul’s conversion, I hope this story serves as a reminder of the need for charity towards our enemies, and perhaps even charity towards ourselves. God may yet have in mind a way to use them (and us) for his redeeming work. As children of the Creator, we may all someday become new creatures, a great blessing and a great gift to the Church. Saul did.
May the peace of Christ disturb you profoundly,
Br. James
© 2012 James R. Dennis
Domini Canes 
It’s as though this transformation, this conversion, required a complete reboot of his system. Paul must have gone through a terrible loneliness during this time. As Bonhoeffer once observed, we are never more isolated than we are in becoming a Christian, but the alienation occurs for the sake of a new community.
Your words above in this paragraph have just described in completeness my experience this past weekend in retreat and it makes sense because of what I am now beginning to be called to do. Br James I am certain now that you are not the chap in the picture – ’tis an illusion – but one of Christ’s heavenly brothers sending words direct from Zion to help the pioneers out in the field.
Constantina,
I’m glad this piece spoke to you at this particular time in your life. I know it’s a pivotal time for you.
Regarding the rest, I assure you that I’m the fellow in the picture, and that I am decidedly earthly. (Wry grin). As always, thank you for your kindness and your encouragement.
Pax Christi,
Br. James
Thank you, your word about charity really meant much to me.
Linda,
Our charity towards our brothers and sisters (even those of God’s children who are difficult) is so very important to our spiritual lives isn’t it?
God’s peace,
Br. James
This is one of my favorite passages. Powerful conversion! My conversion was like yours, Br. James. Small steps. But there are times when a light from Heaven is desired! Thank you.
Sister,
I think if it’s one of your favorite passages of Scripture, that speaks to your hopefulness.
Pax,
Br. James
Delightfully disturbing. Thank you.
Peter,
You’re most welcome. Thanks for the encouragement.
Br. James
We declare God Creator of heaven and earth, of all that is. I have to smile really big when I am reminded that God is master of irony, too. God must take great delight in overturning our expectations and choosing us for the most unlikely of tasks. (Not really the point here, but I thoroughly enjoyed your descriptions of God’s chosen rascals.)
Lera,
Perhaps I just have an affinity for rascals. I’m not sure why that might be….
With great affection,
Br. James
you wrote: You see, not much in Saul’s life suggested that he would be the person most responsible for spreading the message of Jesus throughout the Empire. God, however, had something remarkable in mind. God knew something we really struggle against: people can change.
I agree with you, but I also see something else here that is a great comfort to me. There were something things God required Paul to change, but there where things that God placed in Paul: his zeal, his ability to commit at a level few could match, his energy, his fire, things essential to Paul’s very nature that God utilized, even required for the task God sent him on.
I have no doubt that Paul was a difficult person to live with both before and after his conversion. He seems to have been an all or nothing guy who probably drove people nuts around him. Who else oculd possibly match his zeal? God took those qualities and turned them for His purposes. He didn’t disqualify Paul because he was a difficult person. Rather He turned those qualities into something for His glory.
When I am reminded that I am ‘not like’ everyone else and even rejected for it, I am also reminded that so many of those who God used were also ‘different’ from those around them and that is was those differences that God used to glorify himself.
Maria Grace,
I think you’re very right in this. God often takes our raw material (and sometimes it’s very raw indeed) and redirects it toward holiness. There is a great gift in this, and we call that gift “grace”. I agree that there’s a great comfort in the story of Saul’s conversion, and his redirection. Thanks so much for your thoughts,
God’s peace,
Br. James
Brother James:
I really enjoyed your description of Saul/Paul and the question of why God would choose someone like Paul. I think as well as Paul’s history, his passion about what he believes, the same passion that made him such a “monster,” also made him an amazing apostle as well. I’ve seen some of the biggest “lost causes,” become the strongest, most amazing believers and witnesses for Jesus. I think sometimes what we think makes a person unruly is the very characteristic that God uses to show His power. Thank you so much for teaching.
Rondi
Rondi,
I’m also a big fan of “lost causes.” The story of Paul illustrates so well that ours is a religion of second chances. It’s important that we remember that in our daily walk. Many thanks for your thoughts.
Have a wonderful Sabbath,
Br. James
I love this .. GOD shows Paul who he is and gives him the name of the God he knows nothing of. Thank you my friend for your blog post today
(Paul)
Paul,
I’m so glad it spoke to you. God’s peace, amigo,
Br. James
Love it!
Thank you, Charity.
God bless,
Br. James