The Conversion of St. Paul the Apostle

The Collect

O God, by the preaching of your apostle Paul you have caused the light of the Gospel to shine throughout the world: Grant, we pray, that we, having his wonderful conversion in remembrance, may show ourselves thankful to you by following his holy teaching; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

The Psalm
67

The Readings

Acts 26:9-21     +     Galatians 1:11-24     +     Matthew 10:16-22

Let your ways be know upon earth,

     your saving health among all nations.

Let the peoples praise you, O God;

     let all the peoples praise you. 

~Psalm 67:2-3

Several of us at Holy Apostles are currently reading through St. Paul's letter to the Romans with the Good Book Club. Almost certainly the most influential of Paul's many letters, Romans opens with a powerful statement that sets the tone for what follows: For I am not ashamed of the gospel; it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who has faith, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed through faith for faith (Rom. 1:16-17).  

In this season of Epiphany, we hear a lot of scripture and song about God's salvation for all the earth, or the dawning light of Christ drawing all the nations of the world. That was the theme of Paul's ministry. Though Paul often has gotten a bad rap as someone hung up on morality or rules, that is a caricature based on pulling verses out of context or simply an unwillingness to seriously engage his writings. In fact, Paul was fundamentally inclusive. After his conversion, he understood himself to be called by God to be "apostle to the Gentiles"--to carry the good news of God's salvation beyond the traditional sphere of Judaism and into all the world; to bring the nations to Zion. Paul's letters bear out what a challenge this call was; he was often opposed or misunderstood from both sides, by both Jew and Gentile. And yet, as his assertion in the letter to the Romans boldly asserts, Paul was utterly convinced in the power of God to bridge the divide. None are excluded from the saving health God extends in Jesus. That was the conviction upon which Paul was willing to stake all things, even his life.

Consider your own life in Christ. 

Do you have a "conversion story"? 

How would you describe God's call on your life? 

What do you make of Paul's claim that the gospel is the power of God for salvation to everyone who has faith? Would you say the same?

Closing Prayer

Lord Jesus, as you called your servant Paul to a life of faithful discipleship, make us to hear, recognize, and heed your call in our own lives; for the sake of the world for which you died and rose again. Amen.