25 January 2020
Feast of the Conversion of St. Paul
Today’s feast is unique. No other feast is dedicated specifically to the conversion of a saint. When we see the conversion of Paul, what do we see? We see that Jesus wanted Paul to be with Him. Just before Paul’s baptism, Ananias tells him that “The God of our ancestors designated you to know his will, to see the Righteous One, and to hear the sound of his voice; for you will be his witness before all to what you have seen and heard” (Acts 22:14-15). God could have dealt with Paul in any number of ways. God could have spread the gospel in any number of ways. But He decided to bring about the conversion of Paul, so that Paul could help bring about the conversion of so many others.
Most of us are likely not guilty of the same crimes as Paul (some of which would fit the technical definition of genocide). Yet all of us are in need of conversion. God could deal with our sins in so many ways. We could be stricken dead, made destitute, deprived of our free will. Yet God continues to hold out hope for our conversion. And, like Paul, God continues to give us the opportunity to see His Son, and hear His voice, that we may be changed and change others. Celebrating Paul’s conversion, we celebrate that God desires conversion: yours, mine, the whole world’s.