-- Proverbs 13:13 --

 -- Proverbs 13:13 --=20

He who scorns instruction will pay for it,
but he who respects a command is rewarded.
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D
God created us, knows us, and loves us.
It only makes sense, then, to listen to his instructions
and to do what he says. The Bible is his unfailing word to us.=20
It is like an owner's manual for a car. If you obey God's=20
instructions, you will "run right" and find his kind of power to live.
If you ignore them, you will have breakdowns, accidents and failures.

<<>><<>><<>>
January 25th - Feast of the Conversion of Saint Paul

Today is the feast day of the Conversion of Saint Paul, while
traveling on the road to Damascus. During this remarkable moment, Paul
comes face to face with Jesus, who states, =E2=80=9CI am Jesus, the one you
are persecuting.=E2=80=9D Paul=E2=80=99s heart is changed, as is his life. =
His
encounter with Jesus transforms his beliefs, and his prolific theology
springs forth, which he shares with all who will listen. For Paul, an
everyday trip becomes the start of an extraordinary journey toward the
Lord. And for him, the path to God is love.

Born in Tarsus to a noble family, Saint Paul was at first named Saul.
His family, given the laws at the time, were bestowed the rights and
privileges of citizens of the Roman Empire. Saul grew up instructed in
Mosaic Law, which he strictly observed. Sent to Jerusalem to study,
Saul mentored with the strictest and most prideful sect of Pharisees.
As was the Jewish rule of the time, he also learned the craft of
tent-making. During this time (36 A.D.), Christianity was spreading
throughout the region, but was not to be tolerated.

Saint Stephen the Deacon was an early martyr of the church at that
time. He was persecuted and put on trial by the Sanhedrin for
preaching the message of Christ. Throughout his trial, he remained
steadfast in his faith, with =E2=80=9Cthe countenance of an angel.=E2=80=9D
Eventually, the observers, acting =E2=80=9Cas a single man,=E2=80=9D rushed=
 at him,
dragged him from the city, and stoned him to death. While they were
doing so, they laid their cloaks at the feet of Saul, who kept them--a
sign at the times for responsibility of the execution. While he was
dying, Saint Stephen pleaded for the forgiveness of his tormentors,
including Saul. He fell to his knees and cried out in a loud voice,
=E2=80=9CLord do not hold this sin against them.=E2=80=9D And with that he =
died. (Acts
7:60) Saints and theologians credit Saint Stephen=E2=80=99s intercession as
one of the precursors to the Lord=E2=80=99s conversion of Saul.

1 Saul, for his part, concurred in the act of killing. That day saw
the beginning of a great persecution of the church in Jerusalem. (Acts
8:1) By virtue of the power he had received from the high priest, Saul
dragged Christians out of their homes, loaded them with chains, and
thrust them into prison where they were tortured and oftentimes
executed. He was ruthless and unmoved by their pleas for mercy. In the
fury of his zeal he asked for permission to persecute all the Jews in
Damascus who confessed to Jesus Christ, and to bring them in bonds to
Jerusalem, that they might serve as examples for the others. It was
with this permission that Saul, and his assistants, set off on the
road to Damascus, where he would encounter the saving grace, and
unquestionable patience and mercy of the Lord.

1 Saul, still breathing murderous threats against the Lord=E2=80=99s
disciples, went to the high priest 2 and asked him for letters to the
synagogues in Damascus which would empower him to arrest and bring to
Jerusalem anyone he might find, man or woman, living according to the
new way. 3 As he traveled along and was approaching Damascus, a light
form the sky suddenly flashed about him. 4 He fell to the ground and
at the same time heard a voice saying, =E2=80=9CSaul, Saul, why do you
persecute me?=E2=80=9D 5 =E2=80=9CWho are you, sir?=E2=80=9D he asked. The =
voice answered, =E2=80=9CI
am Jesus, the one you are persecuting. 6 Get up and go into the city,
where you will be told what to do.=E2=80=9D (Acts  9:1-6)

In his epistles, Paul details that while he was struck down and
blinded, he experienced a vision of Jesus. But he further explains
that vision does not fully capture the experience. Rather, an
=E2=80=9Cillumination=E2=80=9D of his life, and above all, a =E2=80=9Crevel=
ation=E2=80=9D of the
vocation that will become his calling. He preaches throughout the
world the mysteries of Christ, and the simple truth that conversion
was not the result of a development of thought or reflection, but the
fruit of divine intervention-- an unforeseeable, divine grace. Paul=E2=80=
=99s
message is clear: Jesus Christ must remain the center of our lives, so
that our identity is tied to his, just as Paul=E2=80=99s identity was rebor=
n
through his encounter with Christ. Our lives are made whole through
the Eucharist, by communion with Christ, and in his Word which
restores purity and virtue.

Saint Paul went on to preach throughout the Mediterranean. He authored
13 epistles of the New Testament, spreading the word of God, and
greatly contributing to the growth of the Church. The blasphemer and
persecutor had become the greatest writer of that time.

Upon returning to Jerusalem (about 60 AD), Saint Paul was beheaded, a
Christian martyr. His remains are buried at the Basilica of Saint
Paul, outside the walls of Rome. Recent scientific inquiry into the
remains, at the behest of Pope Benedict XVI, has confirmed their
authenticity.

Pope Benedict XVI, in a general audience, spoke of Saint Paul, saying,
=E2=80=9CClement of Rome, my Predecessor to this Apostolic See, wrote of [P=
aul
of Tarsus] in the last years of the first century: =E2=80=98Because of
jealousy and discord, Paul was obliged to show us how one obtains the
prize of patience.... After preaching justice to all in the world, and
after having arrived at the limits of the West, he endured martyrdom
before the political rulers; in this way he left this world and
reached the holy place, thus becoming the greatest model of
perseverance.=E2=80=99=E2=80=9D

Saint Paul was a tireless preacher of the truth of Christ=E2=80=99s love, h=
is
letter beautiful and elegant instruction in the salvation of the Lord.
But he is the same man, Saul, who ceaselessly persecuted Christians,
prior to his meeting Jesus on the road to Damascus. In considering
that meeting, we are struck by his amazing conversion, his rebirth
into life through the love and saving grace of Christ. No longer was
redemption bound by the law, or acquired through works, but instead,
assured through commitment to Christ and his loving forgiveness. We
are left with the certainty that if the Lord can enable Saul to start
anew as Saint Paul, He will change us for the better if we believe
whole-heartedly and with conviction. Called to conversion on a daily
basis, today we pause to examine what we could do better, and ask our
Lord to change our hearts.
 by Jacob


Bible Quote:
 For I am certain that neither death nor life, neither angels nor
principalities, neither the present nor the future, nor powers, 39
neither height nor depth nor any other creature, will be able to
separate us from the love of God that comes to us in Jesus Christ, our
Lord. (Romans 8:38-39)


<><><><>
O ruler of the universe, Lord God,

great deeds are they that you have done,
surpassing human understanding.
Your ways are ways of righteousness and truth,

O King of all the ages.
Who can fail to do you homage, Lord
and sing the praises of your Name?
for you only are the Holy One.

All nations will draw near and fall down before you
because your just and holy works have been revealed.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:
as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen.