Feast of the Conversion of Saint Paul, Apostle

"Go, for this man is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before Gentiles, kings, and children of Israel, and I will show him what he will have to suffer for my name." So Ananias went and entered the house; laying his hands on him, he said, "Saul, my brother, the Lord has sent me, Jesus who appeared to you on the way by which you came, that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit."

Although we might not be blinded by God or experience locutions or visions, we are all called to a deeper conversion. Sometimes that conversion involves our attitude toward God. Other times it involved our attitude toward others. Both involve the need for us to know, love, and serve more perfectly. For Paul, his conversion required him to turn his life upside-down from where he was. His calling asked him to give up his previous life completely and become a follower of Christ instead of a persecutor of Christ’s followers. He had to be reconciled with God, but also with the community of believers as well. This is why his conversion required not only God’s intervention, but also the intercession of Ananias. Ananias represented the entire Church in this moment and although he hesitated in going to Paul, he ultimately listened to the Lord, went forth, and welcomed Paul into the Body of Christ. Sometimes we are like Paul before the conversion, doing what we believe is right, but then discover that we were wrong and have to repent and realign our lives. Other times we are like Ananias and we know God’s Will, but hesitate at what is being asked of us. In both cases, we need to be more deeply converted and trust that God’s Divine Plan will lead to a greater good for us and all His children.

Are there thoughts, words, or works in our lives that are not in alignment with God’s Will? Are we willing to allow God to more deeply convert our hearts even if it means turning our lives upside-down? What do we need to do in order to reconcile ourselves with God and all His children?

O Lord, convert our hearts so that we might be filled with the Holy Spirit.

Amen.