Conversion

   “On his journey, as he was nearing Damascus, a light from the sky suddenly flashed around him.  He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?”  (Acts 9: 3-4)

   Saul’s conversion is probably the best-known conversion account in history.  Saul, the great persecutor of Christians became Paul, the great Apostle to the gentiles.  Paul’s conversion changed the face of Christianity.  The one who had hated them the most became one who loved them and spent the rest of his life preaching the saving grace of our Lord to all who would listen.

   I believe we must all experience a conversion.  For those who were raised without faith the conversion can be an extremely dramatic event.  Suddenly life is different.  The things that had been held most dear become less important.  Even those who were raised in faith will profit from a personal conversion experience.  As a child we have a child’s understanding of faith.  As adults we need to move beyond the simplistic explanations and get to know our faith and our God in a more mature manner.

   God does not choose the prepared, he prepares the chosen.  This paraphrase of St. Paul’s words from 1 Corinthians chapter 1, verses 26-31 speaks to the fact that God doesn’t always choose those whom we would expect to be chosen.  None of the Apostles were learned men, they were simple men who had led simple lives.  Yet Jesus called them to be the beginnings of His new faith and Church.  Today is no different, those we would least expect are sometimes called to sanctity by the grace of God.

   Ananias, who would baptize Paul, was afraid.  “Lord, I have heard from many sources about this man, what evil things he has done to your holy ones in Jerusalem.” (Acts 9: 13).  But the Lord insisted, “Go, for this man is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before Gentiles, kings and Israelites, and I will show him what he will have to suffer for my name.” (Acts 9: 15).

   At times those who are newly converted have their faith questioned and are not believed when they speak of their new life with God.  They can even be turned from their faith by such a lack of acceptance.  Satan sometimes works well even in those who claim to be loving Christians.  

   If we accept that Jesus could take ordinary men and make them the leaders of Christianity we must accept that He can do the same for those who seek Him today.  What Jesus did for Paul, He does for others today.  Our response must be one of love, support and encouragement.  How else can we encourage and grow the kingdom of God on earth?