The Conversion of Saint Paul

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 the peoples praise you, O God;
     let all the peoples praise you.
Let the nations be glad and sing for joy,
     for you judge the peoples with equity

     and guide all the nations upon earth.

~Psalm 67:3-4

This feast closes the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, which began with the feast of the Confession of St. Peter. But it is always a good time to pray for that unity for which Jesus himself prayed. Such unity, according to Jesus, is bound up with our witness to all the world: that unity in love will shine the light of the gospel to those who long to hear it, while our continued and often petty disagreements only give people a reason to discount what we say, including the message of life we are meant to bear.
"I ask not only on behalf of these, but also on behalf of those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one. As you, Father, are in me and I am in you, may they also be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me . . . and have loved them even as you have loved me." (John 17:20-21,23)

Closing Prayer
Lord Jesus, with you we pray: grant that we and all your people may be one, united in you, and drawn by you into the depth of the Father's love. Amen.

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The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity included a closing ecumenical vespers at the tomb of St. Paul in Rome, with Pope Francis praying together with clergy from Anglican, Orthodox, and other churches.

A video of the vespers may be accessed here. It's lengthy, but skip ahead to 1:02:05 to see Pope Francis shake hands with the Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of East Tennessee, the Rt. Rev. Brian L. Cole.