Today's a big day! The Church celebrates the conversion of Saint Paul. The feast is especially significant this year, since 2008/2009 is the year dedicated to Paul. He's so great that he should always remembered as a good example of Christianhood.
In so many ways, he's my faith hero because so much of what he's experienced, said and written, I relate to so well. So many times in my faith journey when I found it hard to serve with joy because it hurt so much to be kicked around, Paul showed the way to whole-hearted service.
He played a big role in the execution of Stephen, the first martyr (Acts 7:54-8:1), and made good pleasure out of putting Christians in prison (8:3). No one in the right mind would have imagined this young man to be an instrument of God. Well, no one, except God Himself.
Jesus appeared to Paul in a bright light while Paul was still "breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord" (9:1), and asked, "Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?" (v. 4, RSV-CE). After being stunned and blinded for three days, Saul received a word from a disciple of the Lord, and boom: he got up, and got baptised (v. 18). From the Christian-hater to Christ-lover, Paul was converted - just like that.
God would eventually show Paul "how much he must suffer for the sake of my name" (v. 16). Eventually, what went around, came around for Paul. The man who once beat up and persecuted Christians, got beaten up and gave up his own life for Christ.
The Lord chose Paul to be His instrument (v. 15) despite his terrible treatment toward the Church. Guess what? We're unlikely to be any worse than Paul; God can use you too.
Paul did not say yes; he simply and "immediately proclaimed Jesus ... the Son of God" (v. 20). Paul's answer to the call was plain, simple and immediate. Is ours? Wait - we don't have to say it.
We just need to act on it now.
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