Saturday 25 January 2020

Your destiny is in your hands: Feast of the Conversion of Saint Paul, Ap


Homily (Reflection) for the Feast of the Conversion of Saint Paul, Ap (25th January, 2020) on the Gospel and the Feast
 
Acts 22:3-16 or Acts 9:1-22;
Ps 116:1-2. (R. Mk 16:15);
Mk 16:15-18.
Topic: Your destiny is in your hands.
In today’s gospel, Jesus commissioned His disciples with these words: “Go into all the world and proclaim the good news to the whole creation. The one who believes and is baptized will be saved; but the one who does not believe will be condemned” (Mk 16:15-16). The gospel also tells us the signs that will accompany the believers.
We celebrate today the conversion of the apostle to the Gentiles, Saint Paul, cf. Rom 11:13; Eph 3:8; Gal 2:9. Before his conversion, Saint Paul persecuted the faith he later professed more than any other apostle, cf. Acts 11:23; 22:4; 1Cor 15:9; Gal 1:13. His dramatic conversion took place on his way to Damascus with authority from the chief priests to bring any follower of Christ he might see to Jerusalem for punishment, cf. Acts 9:1-2, 13-14; 22:4-5.
On his conversion he immediately inquired of what is expected of him in these words: “What shall I do, Lord?” (Acts 22:10). And in like manner, we ought to have asked and to be made known what to do when we were born-again, cf. Jn 3:5; Lk 3:10-14.
Christ has abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel, cf. 2Tim 1:10. Many still refuse to come to Jesus to have life, cf. Jn 5:40. And there lies the condemnation. Hence Saint Paul wrote in his second letter to the Thessalonians: “so that all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness” (2Thess 2:12).
Dear friends, remember that you belong to “a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's own people, that you may declare the wonderful deeds of him who called you out of darkness into his marvellous light” (1Pt 2:9). It is in your hands to be a saint or a sinner. You too can make it. Let us move on.
Bible Reading: Lk 3:1-20.
Thought for today: Refusing to repent is a refusal to life.
Let us pray: Lord, help us to follow the example of Saint Paul in abandoning our old ways and live entirely for you – Amen.
Saint Paul – Pray for us.
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