It is 25th January 2017. We celebrate the Feast of the Conversion of St Paul, the Apostle. The readings are from Acts 22:3-16 and the Gospel from Mark 16:15-18. In the first reading St. Paul himself narrates about his life before the conversion and the vocation to serve Christ thereafter. Our conversion has to have an impact on us personally and on others spiritually. God does not convert us from our evil ways to be pious and spiritual for ourselves only. Our conversion need to be seen in the community and in our personal efforts in building of the Christian communities. Our conversion must not be phony, fake and controversial rather it needs to be real, noticeable and lasting. Our conversion is not just the understanding of some evil of the remote past but it is a personal decision to walk in the light of Christ and leading the others to the same. We all have enough light within us to reach God through our faith in Christ. In the same way, we too need to admit that we have sufficient darkness within and around to deviate us from God. A radical conversion is possible for the one who has faith in Jesus. We need the fusion of faith along with our understanding and reason to have a sincere and serious conversion. The conversion of St. Paul is a strong reminder for all of us that it is not a dogmatic and formalized intervention that changed him to the core rather it is the personal encounter with Christ brought the authentic and lasting conversion in him. We all need to become the instrument of God and that is the only proof of our conversion. “The God of our ancestors has chosen you to know God’s will, to see the Righteous One and to hear God’s own voice; for you will be God’s witness to all the world of what you have seen and heard.” (Acts.22:14, 15). The responsorial verse prays, “Go out to all the world and tell the Good News.” (Mk.16:16). The Gospel presents us with the encounter of the Eleven with the risen Lord Jesus who encourages them to go out in the name of Jesus and of His Good News. If we believe that we are all converted, then what are we waiting for? Let us take up the responsibility of spreading the values of kingdom of God to all people. May you have a day full of blessing.