+ St. Paul, who was named Saul at his circumcision, was born at Tarsus, the
capital of Cilicia, and was by privilege a Roman citizen, making him eligible
for great distinction and several exemptions granted by the laws of the empire.
At a young age he was instructed in the strict observance of the Mosaic Law and
lived up to it in the most scrupulous manner. In his zeal for the Jewish law,
he became an aggressive persecutor of the Christians.
Saul was involved in the
martyrdom of St. Stephen, by his presence at the scene and his unwillingness to
intervene to stop it, and in the beginning of the persecution of Christians. By
virtue of the power he had received from the high priest, he dragged the
Christians out of their houses, loaded them down with chains and threw them
into prison. On his way to Damascus to seize Christians and bring them bound to
Jerusalem he and his party were surrounded by a light from heaven, brighter
than the sun, and suddenly struck to the ground.
And then a voice was heard
saying:” Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” He replied: “Who are you,
Lord?” and the voice replied, “I am Jesus whom you are persecuting.” This
comparatively mild reprimand by Jesus, along with a powerful flood of interior
grace, transformed Saul’s pride, curtailed his rage, and brought about a total
change in him. Saul then cried out: “Lord, what will You have me do?” Our Lord
ordered him to arise and to proceed on his way to the city, where he should be
informed of what was expected from him.
What happened after that we
all know about: he was cured of his physical blindness by a holy man named
Ananias: who laid his hands on him and said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus who
appeared to you on your journey, has sent me that you may receive your sight
and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” Saul then arose and was baptized; he
stayed a few days at Damascus and began immediately to preach in the synagogues
that Jesus was the Son of God. Thus a blasphemer and a persecutor was made an
apostle, and chosen as one of God’s principal instruments in the conversion of
the whole world.
This feast is all about the
truly awesome power of God’s grace to bring about what he Himself ordains: it
tells us as well that it is our part simply to cooperate with the movement of
God, be filled with his Spirit and willing to proclaim this Good News
everywhere and at all times.
Then
Paul said: God was merciful to me,
because in my unbelief I acted in ignorance. The abundant grace of our Lord was
poured out on me, and gave me the faith and love which are ours through union
with Christ Jesus.
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