25 Jan
Sat
Conversion of St Paul
(Psalter Week II)
Acts 22:3-16 or 9:1-22
Ps. 117:1-2
Mk 16:15-18
How To Pray With Shalom
Home Page of Shalom
Index of This Month
 

The conversion of Saul to Paul is one of the most dramatic stories in the New Testament. One can safely say that, by this one event alone, the history of Christianity was changed forever. Of all the Christian leaders in the infant Church he was by far the most dynamic and probably the most intellectually able with the gift of really inspiring people. The beginnings were certainly not auspicious. As a committed Pharisee, utterly committed to his Jewish tradition, he did everything in his power to wipe out the infant community of 'Christians', who, to him, were simply heretical Jews who had to be stopped. But it was Paul who was stopped by the very Lord whom, as he learnt, he was persecuting. The scales fell from his eyes and, for the first time, he really saw. It took time for him to be accepted into the Christian communities and to be trusted. But, once he got going, what an extraordinary enterprise he started, setting the Church on its way to becoming a truly 'catholic' (universal) way of life. I can never compete with Paul but I do need to ask myself today to what extent am I fully converted to the Way of Jesus and how zealous am I in sharing with others my experience of knowing Jesus.



Beloved brother Paul, with your prayers, may I be able to imitate even in a small way your love and passion for Jesus and your missionary enthusiasm.

DAILY OFFERING
Eternal Father, I offer You everything I do this day; my thoughts, words, joys and sufferings. Grant that, vivified by the Holy Spirit and united to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary, my life this day may be of service to You and to others. I also pray that all those preparing for marriage discover in Sacrament the source of Christ's grace for living a fithful and fruitful love. Amen.

PRAYING WITH THE CHURCH
INTENTION
That Christian communities may welcome ever more completely the Lord's invitation to be the salt of the earth and the light of the world.
Elaboration

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