On his (Saul's) journey, as he was nearing Damascus,
a light from the sky suddenly flashed around him.
He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him,
"Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?"
He said, "Who are you, sir?"
The reply came, "I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.
Now get up and go into the city and you will be told what you must do."
The men who were traveling with him stood speechless,
for they heard the voice but could see no one.
Saul got up from the ground,
but when he opened his eyes he could see nothing;
so they led him by the hand and brought him to Damascus.
Acts 9:3-8
a light from the sky suddenly flashed around him.
He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him,
"Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?"
He said, "Who are you, sir?"
The reply came, "I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.
Now get up and go into the city and you will be told what you must do."
The men who were traveling with him stood speechless,
for they heard the voice but could see no one.
Saul got up from the ground,
but when he opened his eyes he could see nothing;
so they led him by the hand and brought him to Damascus.
Acts 9:3-8
This weekend we hear the readings for the Feast of the Conversion of St Paul. Normally we don't hear these readings on a Sunday, but because it is the Year of St Paul, the Pope has given permission and actually encouraged us to use them.
I like the story of Paul's conversion because it reminds me that no matter what we've done in our past, God can always use us for his glory. Here we have Saul (who eventually becomes known as Paul), who has been going around persecuting Christians. One day he was on his way to Damascus to arrest anyone he finds that belongs to the "Way", that is, who are Christians. As he and his companions near the city he falls to the ground and hears a voice asking him "why are you persecuting me?" It is revealed that the voice speaking to him is Jesus (who, by this time, has already ascended into Heaven). Paul is directed to go into Damascus and wait for directions. When he stands up he finds that he is blinded.
How often are we like that? We're going on our own way, doing what we think is best for us, when suddenly, something causes us to fall to the ground, literally or figuratively. We then hear in our heart, God telling us that we have gone far away from him. We're given the chance to return to where we're supposed to be. It's always an offer, never forced. Just like Paul - he could have decided to return to Jerusalem or find a different doctor, but he didn't, he did what Jesus told him to. We are given the opportunity to come back home to God.
The passage goes on to say that God sent Ananias, a disciple, to go and heal Paul. Ananias was probably terrified to go to see the person that was persecuting Christians all over the country, but he did as he was instructed. After Ananias touched Paul's eyes, Scripture says that "Immediately things like scales fell from his eyes and he regained his sight." (Acts 9:18) What is it that blinds us from seeing God's grace? For me, it's mostly the busy schedule I set for myself. For others it could be their job or their family. All of these things are not bad in and of themselves, but when they become the only thing we focus on, we become blinded to all that God has to offer to us.
Have you ever had an experience of something like Paul's? When something like scales fell from your eyes and you could again see clearly?
As we all know, Paul goes on to lead many people to the "Way". He becomes known as disciple to the gentiles, he is credited with writing a large group of letters in the New Testament and was ultimately martyred for his faith.
No matter how far away we run from God, He's always willing to take us back and use us for his glory.
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