Conversion of Saint Paul, Apostle Yrs 1 and 2 2025

Title

Paul as a model of proclamation

Outline

God has chosen believers to proclaim his good news

First, of course, he has to get us into the kingdom or in some cases back or deeper into the kingdom. We normally enter the kingdom through baptism, becoming one with Christ, having heard the good news ourselves. For some there is a naturally supernatural progression from the faith of an infant to the mature faith like Jesus, while others seem to need more dramatic experiences in adolescence or young adulthood to stamp the faith into them. Saul of Tarsus was of this latter type, being at least 30 when he was converted.

God has two basic ways for believers to proclaim the good news

All are called to live Jesus in daily life, to flesh out baptismal grace in a life of virtue, to show their oneness with Jesus by living Jesus. It is this contrast life that raises questions and it is then that they speak. Their proclamation is basically an apologia for the life of Jesus in them.

Some are called to “Go into the whole world and proclaim the gospel to every creature.” Or, as it was said to Saul, “you will be his witness before all to what you have seen and heard.” Note that Paul had been prepared beforehand by his rabbinic training that gave him a good knowledge of the Scriptures and their meaning and by his persecution of Christians that exposed him to their teaching. He may even have heard Jesus personally, especially when he taught in the Temple. Often in such cases the Spirit they receive in baptism impels them to start proclaiming as Saul did, first in Damascus, and then in the area around Damascus (Nabatia, often translated Arabia).

In either case, and especially in the latter, the Spirit grants “these signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up serpents, and if they drink any deadly thing, it will not hurt them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will recover.” He did that to Saul/Paul in spades, for he was the great evangelist of the nations. And with such great power and widespread ministry came great suffering.

What do we learn from this?

First to pray for the conversion or reconversion of all, but especially of those we know: “Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved; whoever does not believe will be condemned.”

Second to do what it takes for us to live the life of Jesus before others.

Third, to pray that if it please God he will give people the grace to ask questions about the life in you and then give you the words to speak.

And fourth to pray in thankfulness for Paul that people like Paul will be raised up and empowered to proclaim the good news and the life of Jesus in our area and among those we know so that they two may have the life we enjoy.

St Paul the Apostle, pray for us