In a sense, Paul’s conversion was not so much a conversion for an immoral life to a moral life. He was a zealous follower of the Mosaic Law. He wasn’t a greedy cutthroat, or a lecherous carouser. His mission was to stomp out a heretical sect that was dividing Judaism and blasphemously claiming that a carpenter from Nazareth not only was the Messiah, but the Son of God.
But Christ broke through Paul’s errors. We are not saved by our external conformity to the prescriptions of the Mosaic Law. Rather, we are saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ. His conversion came when he experienced the resurrection. The resurrected Christ victorious over the grave appeared to him. The truth of the resurrection pierced through his hardness of heart and self-delusion. Paul’s conversion in a sense, was from a false notion of a holy life, to a true notion backed by the fact of the resurrection.
Why do we believe what we believe? Because Christ has risen. He is risen, and therefore his teachings and promises can be believed. Ressurexit, sicut dixit. He has risen, just as he said he would, therefore, what else has he said, that needs to be believed? All of it.
Like Paul prior to his conversion, there are many people who believe they are living a good life. They believe they stand for justice and goodness. But we are not saved by good intentions. For good intentions, can lead to justification of murder, as it did for Paul.
Rather, a good life is not simply based on opinion. It can’t be based on something as fickle and prone to error as that. A good life, eternal life, is obtained not by human reasoning or even human effort. The best human effort can do is build a tower to the heavens, like in the story of Babel. But the after effects of Babel are confusion and division, two of our culture’s defining attributes.
Rather, heaven is reached through the risen one. Eternal life is obtained through the Eternal Son of God who came down from heaven, taking on human flesh, who died and rose. He is the way the truth and the life, no one comes to the Father except through Him. And we are called to so much more than division, confusion, and self-delusion.
This is why Paul, following his conversion, spent the rest of his life, even to the point of death, witnessing to Christ. “Woe to me, if I do not preach Christ”, all else is rubbish, Paul says. And it’s true.
Sometimes, I think the modern Church has forgotten what is most central in our mission—Preaching Christ crucified and risen from the dead and the conversion of life that necessitates from that truth.
May this feast of the great conversion of Paul, bring about great conversion in our world and in ourselves to Christ risen from the grave, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.
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That our bishops may be graced with Saint Paul’s zeal in preaching and teaching the Word of God. Let us pray to the Lord.
That our parish may build up missionary disciples equipped for the spreading of the Gospel. Let us pray to the Lord.
For the conversion of all hardened sinners and all persecutors of the faith and those in error, that the Lord may touch their hearts and remove the blindness from their eyes. Let us pray to the Lord.
For all who have suffered as a result of violence or abuse, all of the sick and suffering, especially victims of natural disaster, poverty, and addiction, may they be comforted and supported by God’s healing love. Let us pray to the Lord.
For our departed loved ones and all of the souls in purgatory, and for N. for whom this Mass is offered. Let us pray to the Lord.
Incline your merciful ear to our prayers, we ask, O Lord, and listen in kindness to the supplications of those who call on you. Through Christ our Lord
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