Twenty-Sixth Day of Lent – Monday – Mar 31

The Conversion of Saul – St. Paul

“The Conversion of St Paul” This stained glass window showing St Paul’s conversion on the Damascus Road, as recounted in Acts 9:1-22, is in Ely Cathedral. Photo by Fr Lawrence Lew, O.P.; flickr

Meditation

The Twenty-Sixth Day of Lent introduces us to our first encounter with Saul, who becomes St. Paul. Some people are ‘A’ types and will throw themselves wholeheartedly into anything they do. Saul fits that type. A well-educated Pharisee, Saul zealously promotes his Hebrew faith, believing firmly in all the words of the law and the prophets. He follows the party line that this upstart from Nazareth is undermining the true faith in G-d—YHWH (the Hebrews didn’t write out the full name of God, having too much reverence for it)-God-Jehovah.

We have been studying one story after another where God revealed the heart of someone was different than the outward appearance. King Saul cut a fine figure, but his heart shifted from God-centered to self-centered. Young David wasn’t as impressive as his seven older brothers, but his heart appealed to God, with his trust and obedience. Now, Saul, whose heart desires to promote a true understanding of God, requests permission to go to Damascus and capture any disciples—any followers of Christ, binding them and returning to Jerusalem for what would be execution. He later acknowledged his part in the death of many believers—hence he called himself the ‘least of all saints.’

God saw his zealousness, but realize that he would have to touch his heart in a profound way that would remove all doubt that Christ was indeed the Messiah; the one all Jews awaited, who would be their salvation. Saul, like so many Jews, were looking for a more ‘kingly’ type messenger, not this lowly carpenter, this Nazarene, this man born to an unwed mother, this man born in a stable…the list went on.

No matter. When God recognizes a genuine soul that will do the work needed, God chooses the ones we don’t expect—the ones we would never choose. God chose Saul by direct interaction. God is Light. A bright light shone on Saul, so much that he fell to his knees. I’ve been momentarily blinded by a flashlight in my face. I have stopped walking. But this light made him unsteady and fall to the ground. And then, the Voice spoke. “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?”(NIV v5) Saul asked, “Who are you?” – As a true student, he didn’t assume. He asked. He verified.

Jesus—the Word of God—answered. I am Jesus. I am the One you are persecuting. Simple. To the point. For true seekers, they recognize the issues and take note. He was on the wrong track. But God delegated the rest of it to another. To Ananias. Why didn’t Jesus tell Saul everything himself? Because there is always more to be done than people know. Jesus knew that a blinded Saul would go into fasting and praying, until he was visited by the one God chose to be liaison. That was what the ‘A’ type, student of God would do.