Transformative Power of God's Grace: Lessons from Paul's Conversion.
April 19, 2024 - Friday of the Third Week of Easter
Acts 9:1-20; Ps 117:1bc, 2; John 6:52-59
Psalm 117 is the shortest in the Psalter and invites all nations to praise the Lord. The reason for this praise is God’s steadfast love and faithfulness, rooted in His declaration of being “a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness” (Exodus 34:6). Among all those who have experienced God's mercy and steadfast love was the apostle Paul, who, as we are told today, was "still breathing murderous threats against the disciples of the Lord" (Acts 9:1).
The story of Paul’s conversion is recounted three times in the Acts of the Apostles: once by Luke, the author of Acts, and twice by Paul himself. A few things are striking in these accounts. First, the words of Jesus: ‘why are you persecuting me?’ Jesus did not say, ‘why are you persecuting them’, which seems to fit better with historical reality. After all, Paul was persecuting Christians and not Christ. Jesus' question, "why are you persecuting me?" (Acts 9:4), makes us realize the truth of Christ’s deep unity with His followers. The conclusion we draw from this question is clear: any harm inflicted upon believers is felt by Christ Himself.
The second striking point is the presence of Ananias. Even such a great apostle as Paul, who considered himself blameless according to the law of Moses, could not be saved without the sacrament of baptism. However, to be baptized, Paul needed a Christian community that could administer this sacrament. Paul could not baptize himself, and so enters Ananias, the faithful servant of Christ. He appears only once in the entire story of Acts, but he appears at the most crucial moment of Paul’s life. Moreover, Ananias does not reprimand Paul for his past sins. Instead, he embraces him as a brother.
Finally, in Acts 26, Jesus articulates the purpose of evangelization, emphasizing the Gospel's ability to illuminate and transform lives. This transformative power is echoed in John 6:52-59, where Jesus speaks of Himself as the bread of life, inviting all to partake of His body and blood. Through this communion, believers are united with Christ and receive the gift of eternal life.
The Gospel's transformative power is a beacon of hope for humanity, offering forgiveness, sanctification, and reconciliation with God. Just as Paul was commissioned to proclaim Jesus as the Son of God, so too are we called to share this life-transforming message with the world. As we partake of the bread of life and share it with others, we participate in the ongoing work of evangelization, bringing light to darkness and liberation from the power of sin.