Tuesday, January 24, 2017

Conversion of St. Paul, the Apostle, Wednesday, 25-01-17

Acts 22:3-16 or Acts 9:1-22 / Mark 16:15-18

We believe that God is merciful and compassionate. We believe that He loves us and even sent His only Son to save us.

Yet as much as we believe in that, can we also say that some people are so stubborn and obstinate that short of being struck by lighting, they just won't change their views or opinions.

So having said that, will we be willing to say that God will bring us down to our knees in order that we turn back to Him?

As we heard in the 1st reading, Saul (before he changed his name to Paul) was breathing threats to slaughter the Lord's disciples and he was on his way to Damascus to do so.

Then, suddenly, there came a light from heaven and he fell to the ground and he heard the voice of Jesus asking him why is he persecuting Him.

Not only that, he was also blinded and later he was cured by Ananias, one of the disciples.

Undoubtedly it was a dramatic story of conversion in which the Lord showed so many signs.

Yet, Saul had to fall to the ground before he could rise up to believe in the Lord.

Similarly if the Lord has to bring us down to our knees in order for us to come back to Him, the Lord of love will do it.

"For he wounds, but he also binds up; he injures, but his hands also heal." (Job 5:18)