May the Lord bless you with grace, and peace in the Holy Spirit.
It is 25th January 2022. We celebrate the feast day of Conversion of St Paul.
We reflect on Acts 22:3-16 and Mark 16:15-18.
A turning point in life is a lead that is providential. When a human soul has a crush on Truth, and life is crushed by the sharpened jaws of disappointments, despair, and desperation of looking for truth, the turning point, the moment of encountering truth as it happens between a call and conversion. The experiential encounter of the divine in one’s life triggers a new paradigm and a mental programme that propels actions of faith.
Where am I? where am I going? But the questions of Paul were focused on God in whom he had faith and so prepared to do anything for the One whom he loved.
Conversion is not all about us. It is the actions that we are prepared to do after this experiential encounter with the divine. We all have the glimpse of encounter every moment.
No identity card is required to pursue the truth.
Though St. Paul was erudite in his Jewish traditions and the law, the person and unpretentious encounter with Jesus brought the transformation he looked for in life. Applied faith adds flavour to the ingredients of believing. His turning point came unexpectantly but left the most expected marks on him as a person for the rest of his life and that is why he was able to say: “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” (Gal.2:20). Finding and embracing the Truth is the conversion we all need. Inhaling lies all-round the day shrinks our vision of life to serve. Conversion is a serial encounter with the truth of daily events and meetings of people.
Jesus calls every one of us just like He called the twelve. His call is for conversion not of the other but of ourselves. Our response is the visible sign of our conversion. To become an instrument of love in spreading the love of Jesus to all. We are the choice and selection of God to reach out to people. May God bless you to be a witness to the Gospel of life and truth.