Feast of the Conversion of Saint Paul, Apostle

Jesus appeared to the Eleven and said to them: “Go into the whole world and proclaim the Gospel to every creature. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved; whoever does not believe will be condemned. These signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will drive out demons, they will speak new languages. They will pick up serpents with their hands, and if they drink any deadly thing, it will not harm them.  They will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.”

Each of us is called to a deeper conversion of spirit by God. This process of purification and sanctification will last throughout our lives. We are asked by God to go into the world and proclaim the Gospel to everyone. The conviction to do this work, in spite of the opposition from the world, comes from our faith in God, Our Heavenly Father. The example of Jesus Christ gives us the model of how to undertake this task in a spirit of self-sacrifice. The inspiration and strength to accomplish this vocation flows from the Holy Spirit. Together, the Holy Trinity gives us every grace we need to transform ourselves into lights of love, instruments of peace, and fonts of mercy. We manifest God’s Compassion for all His children as faithful followers of His Church and active members of the One Mystical Body of Christ.

Do our lives proclaim the Gospel to those around us? Do we manifest the conviction, charity, and motivation to do God’s Will without reservation or complaint? What can we do to become more deeply converted?

O Lord, give us the graces to go into the world and proclaim your Gospel to every creature.

Amen.