Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me? With this question, Jesus confronts Saul, a tentmaker from Tarsus who spent much of his spare time persecuting the new believers of Jesus Christ. A devout Jew, Saul was convinced that the devotion to Jesus was a threat to his religion. In Acts of the Apostles, he is mentioned as the one who orchestrated the stoning death of St. Stephen, the first reported Christian martyr.
Saul was on his way to Damascus when he had a personal encounter with Jesus. With a flash of light and the above referenced question, Saul was talking to the Messiah he denied. Interesting choice of words by Jesus; by using "me" he forever linked Himself to the "church".
Most of you reading this know the story. He was taken into town, blinded by the encounter, and stayed there for three days until the Lord sent Ananias to him to lay hands on him. Ananias was obedient, laid hands and told Saul you will regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit. And he was; his sight was restored and he immediately was baptized.
Scripture says that at once, he began to preach in the synagogues that Jesus is the Son of God.
His name was changed to Paul and the rest is history. St. Paul became a pillar of the church; his wonderful writings and letters make up such a rich body of work in the New Testament.
So today let us all celebrate the conversion of St. Paul; transformed by the power of God's love, the healing power of Christ and the infusion of the Holy Spirit, from a persecutor of the Christian faith to a vessel of His grace!
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