Conversion of St. Paul, Feast

Today we celebrate the Conversion of St. Paul. Jesus converted Saul, persecutor of Christians, into Paul, Champion of Christianity. The 1st Reading tells the dramatic conversion, how he was struck down by a great light and heard Jesus speak to him. Similarly it can take a tragedy or illness to strike us off our high horse into the dirt to make us hear Jesus and see the light to a new life. In the Gospel, Jesus commands us converts to “Go into the whole world and proclaim the Gospel to every creature.” We who regularly attend Mass are challenged to proclaim the Gospel not only by mouth or by religious practices but by deeds of caring for victims of poverty, injustice, persecution and addiction. Let us pray for the conversion of our hearts and minds into seeing the Eucharist beyond devotion and on to mission as members of the Body of Christ. St. Paul pray for us.