Word to the Wise
Monday, January 25, 2016 - Jan. 25 - The Conversion of St. Paul, Apostle
[Acts 22:3-16 or Acts 9:1-22 and Mark 16:15-18]"Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?" He said, "Who are you, sir?" The reply came, "I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting." [Acts]
One of the most significant moments in Christian history is the conversion of the Jewish zealot, Saul of Tarsus, who became known as Paul. In what seems like a single moment, Saul the persecutor became Paul the preacher! The first scripture today offers us two versions of the story. There was, indeed, an important "moment," but there was a process as well in which Saul had to learn more than what he heard. What he did hear in that moment, however, was very important. He learned that the persecution of Christian faithful was persecution of Jesus Christ.
The "process" involved going to Ananias (amazed that the former persecutor is now claiming to be a believer) for healing and to others for instruction. This probably included Barnabus and perhaps Peter. At the same time, Paul developed his own distinctive theology and vision which ultimately unfolded in his letters and journeys. It contrasts with the gospels in that he does not try to tell the whole story of Jesus' life, but focuses primarily on his death and resurrection. It can be very helpful to read his letters in chronological order (recognizing that scripture scholars do argue about the order and even the Pauline authorship of some of them). There his thinking develops right in front of us.
Paul has been called by certain historians the "Second Founder" of Christianity. While that may be somewhat exagerrated, his "version" of the meaning of Jesus' death and resurrection is major, and we hear his words day after day in our worship. A single moment on the road to Damascus has shaped centuries of Christian belief. AMEN
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