THE CONVERSION OF St PAUL

Caravaggio's Conversion of St Paul

Acts 26:9-21
Galatians 1:11-24
Matthew 10:16-22
Psalm 67


January 25th is the Feast of the Conversion of St Paul. Arguably the single most important event in the history of the Christian Church, St Paul's conversion is such a compelling story in itself that "the road to Damascus" has become a universal symbol. The expression now encapsulates all those experiences whose result is a complete transformation in the lives and minds of those who undergo them.

It would be difficult to exaggerate Paul's impact on the reception and understanding of the Christian religion. So great is it, in fact, that some have argued the Christ Paul preaches is his own invention, a radical re-interpretation of the real Jesus of Nazareth. This goes too far, and yet behind it is a key truth. It was given to Paul to see a much deeper significance in the life, death and Resurrection of Jesus than any other contemporary did. It is powerful evidence of how far his theological Letter to the Romans is ahead of its time, that it has sustained two thousand years of academic study and religious reflection.

Yet, still more important than this is the implication he saw in the theology he framed for his own discipleship. Called by God in Christ to be a faithful Jew who was prepared step outside his spiritual comfort zone, he accepted the awesome responsibility of becoming an Apostle to the Gentiles. This meant, in effect, the whole of the ancient world, which required him to set out on his famous journeys. Travelling by risky means to dangerous places, he preached Christ crucified wherever and whenever --sometimes to acclaim, sometimes to mockery, often to violent abuse. To his distress, many of his converts distorted the message he taught them, or fell away when times got tougher. At some point his mission ended in such obscurity that we do not know where he is buried, or even how he died.

In the Gospel for this feast day, Jesus tells his disciples: "I am sending you out like sheep into the midst of wolves; so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves". It is a very daunting commission, one that must have alarmed even those whose love and devotion Jesus had won in person. Paul's strange encounter on the Damascus road enabled him, amazingly, to accept the very same commission. By this he showed that Jesus calls disciples for evermore, and on this day in January he remains a model and mentor for the millions and millions of Christians who have heard that call.