Word to the Wise
Wednesday, January 25, 2023 - Jan. 25 - The Conversion of St. Paul, Apostle
[Acts 22:3-16 or Acts 9:1-22 and Mark 16:15-18]"On that journey as I drew near to Damascus, about noon a great light from the sky suddenly shone around me. I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me, 'Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?' I replied, 'Who are you, sir?' And he said to me, 'I am Jesus the Nazorean whom you are persecuting.'...." [Acts]
It would be very difficult to overemphasize the influence of St. Paul on the development and content of Christian theology!! He has been called the "second founder" of Christianity! We celebrate today the event of his "conversion" on the road to Damascus. He was on the way to arrest anyone who might believe in Jesus Christ as the Messiah. He speaks in his own words about his former way of life in Galatians 1:11-24 and Philippians 3:4-11. (The first scriptures for today are by St. Luke, the author of the Acts of the Apostles!). By almost any standard, Paul (Saul) was a truly unique individual. If nothing else, he shows what even one person can do to make Christ known.
I recommend reading St. Paul's letters in chronological order rather than the traditional order they are listed in the Bible. That can give the reader some insight into the development of his theological thought (e.g. the second coming of Christ). In contrast to the four gospels, there is very little mention of Jesus' life and ministry. The focus is almost entirely on the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus from the dead.
Two other aspects deserve attention. Paul was an itinerant missionary who moved about much of the eastern Roman empire at great risk to himself. Ultimately he was arrested and executed in Rome because of his Roman citizenship. Secondly, his mission to the Gentiles freed the new Christian movement from the obstacles posed by observance of the Mosaic law. [Cf. Acts 15: 1-35 and Galatians 2:1-21].
Ironically, Paul's theology was a principal factor in Luther's decision to challenge the Church. His Letter to the Romans, especially Romans 1:16-17 was used as a way of countering excessive theological and pastoral reliance on human efforts to gain salvation!
Yes, this feast day celebrates a giant in Christian theology whose influence continues each day in the reading of his writings at Eucharist and in theological reflection on the meaning of Jesus' death and resurrection. AMEN