The Conversion of St Paul

Word for the day

“He asked, “Who are you, Lord?” The reply came, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.”” Acts 9:5

Life

Saul was a Jew born in Tarsus in Cilicia, a Roman citizen by birth, brought up in Jerusalem and educated at the feet of the teacher Gamaliel (Acts 22:3). He was a Pharisee, zealous for the Law, and he violently persecuted the followers of Jesus. He approved of the stoning of Stephen and dragged believers to prison (Acts 7:58; 8:1–3; Galatians 1:13–14).

On the road to Damascus, where he was going to arrest Christians, a light from heaven flashed around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice: Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me? He asked: who are you, Lord? The answer came: I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. The Acts of the Apostles tell this event three times (Acts 9, 22 and 26), and Paul himself speaks of it in his letters (Galatians 1:15–16; 1 Corinthians 15:8).

Blinded, he was led into Damascus, where for three days he neither ate nor drank. The Lord sent a disciple named Ananias, who laid hands on him; something like scales fell from his eyes, he regained his sight and was baptised (Acts 9:17–18). He began at once to proclaim Jesus as the Son of God. Paul later wrote that he went away to Arabia, returned to Damascus, and after three years went up to Jerusalem to visit Peter (Galatians 1:17–18).

The persecutor became the Apostle of the nations, the greatest missionary of the early Church, whose letters are part of the New Testament. Paul saw in his conversion a sign of God's mercy: if Christ could save him, the foremost of sinners, He could save anyone (1 Timothy 1:15–16). The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, kept in many places from 18 to 25 January, ends on this feast.

Lessons

No one is beyond grace

The fiercest persecutor became the great apostle.

Christ and His Church are one

To persecute Christians was to persecute Christ.

Grace through the Church

Ananias and baptism were part of Paul's conversion.

A new beginning

Conversion is the start of a life of mission.

Stories

The road to Damascus (history)

A light from heaven flashed around Saul; he fell to the ground and heard the voice of Jesus asking why he persecuted Him (Acts 9:3–6).

Ananias the brave disciple (history)

Ananias was afraid to meet the persecutor, but the Lord told him that Saul was a chosen instrument. He went, called him brother Saul, and laid his hands on him (Acts 9:10–17).

The fall from the horse (tradition)

Many paintings show Saul falling from a horse. The Acts do not mention a horse; this detail comes from later Christian art.

Words of the saint

“I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but it is Christ who lives in me.”
St Paul, Galatians 2:19–20

Homily

1. Who are you, Lord?

The question that changed Saul's life.

2. Christ lives in His people

Why do you persecute me?

3. From enemy to apostle

No one is too far from God.

Dear friends, today we celebrate a turning point in the history of the Church. Saul of Tarsus, a learned and zealous Pharisee, was on his way to Damascus to arrest Christians. Suddenly a light from heaven shone around him, and he heard a voice: Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?

Saul asked: who are you, Lord? And the answer came: I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting (Acts 9:5). Notice: Jesus does not say, why do you persecute my followers, but why do you persecute me. Christ and His Church are one body. What we do to the least of His brothers and sisters, we do to Him.

Saul was blinded, and for three days he waited in darkness. Then the Lord sent Ananias, an ordinary disciple, who was afraid but obeyed. He laid hands on Saul and called him brother. Saul was baptised and began a new life. God uses people like Ananias to bring others to Christ.

The persecutor became the great Apostle of the nations. No one is too far from God's mercy, not even the person we find hardest to love. Let us pray today for the conversion of sinners, beginning with ourselves, and for the unity of all Christians, and let us ask each day like Paul: who are you, Lord, and what do you want me to do? Amen.

Prayer

O God, who taught the whole world through the preaching of the blessed Apostle Paul, grant that we, who celebrate his conversion, may follow his example and become witnesses to your truth in the world. Amen.