Be Like Saint Paul

Saturday of the Second Week in Ordinary Time

Feast of The Conversion of Saint Paul, Apostle

(Click Here for Readings)

Gospel of Mark 16:15-18

Jesus appeared to the Eleven and said to them:“Go into the whole world and proclaim the Gospel to every creature.

Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved; whoever does not believe will be condemned.

These signs will accompany those who believe:in my name they will drive out demons,they will speak new languages.They will pick up serpents with their hands,and if they drink any deadly thing, it will not harm them. They will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.”

Today the Church celebrates the conversion of Saint Paul.  Once a zealous persecutor of people who disobeyed Jewish law, he saw the light of Christ.  He realized the need to use his talents for a much greater purpose:  proclaiming Christ's message of love to the Gentiles.  Instead of throwing people into a den of serpents, he crushed those serpents so they could never harm a believer's soul! Paul's letters to the various Christian communities testify not only to his writing skill but his great enthusiasm for Christ.  

In a homily about Paul,  Saint John Chrysostom eloquently says the following:

"The most important thing of all to him, however, was that he knew himself to be loved by Christ. Enjoying this love, he considered himself happier than anyone else; were he without it, it would be no satisfaction to be the friend of principalities and powers...........As for tyrannical rulers or the people enraged against him, he paid them no more heed than gnats. Death itself and pain and whatever torments might come were but child’s play to him, provided that thereby he might bear some burden for the sake of Christ."

Wow!  I wish we could all be like St. Paul not afraid of our enemies, those who condemn us or show anomosity toward us.  Pay them no more heed than gnats.  Gnats fly around and annoy us.  Simply shoo them away and move on!

The liberal media criticize the Catholic Church for our unrelenting stand against artificial birth control and abortion.  Some Protestants think Catholics worship statues.  Ignorant people claim that only pedephilies and homosexuals make up the priesthood. All of these beliefs are nonsense!  As followers of Jesus, we are bombarded by ridiculous comments and excuses.  We should be like Paul , accepting criticism and other "torments" with ease.  Take them as burdens for the sake of Christ.  Try our best to defend the Church and her teachings but with peace, love and compassion.  Our Lord will provide the tools, the grace, and the strength to spread his message.  We are never alone!  We may be criticized, mocked, condemned, judged and hated for upholding the Truth. However, we will never back down or run away as a wimpy Christian!  

Saint Paul felt happiness inside his heart because he was united with Christ.  We can be like Saint Paul, too!

-J.