Today's Feast: Conversion of St. Paul

Let us celebrate the conversion of Saint Paul the apostle. He was transformed from being a persecutor of Christ into a vessel of his grace. ~Liturgy of the Hours for Conversion of Paul, Apostle

Ave Maria! The conversion of Saul the Pharisee to St. Paul the Apostle, which we celebrate today, is a dramatic one. And who doesn't enjoy at least a tad of drama? Most of us secretly long for a flashing light and a booming voice now and then. As the artist Mary Engelbreit writes, "Life is just so daily!" The majority of us experience conversion in almost mundane ways. That makes sense, because our conversion is life-long and should always be happening, not once but over and over again, and how could we ever handle all those ongoing lights and voices? While we might occasionally fall to the ground blinded by the light as St. Paul did, we eventually have to get up and be busy doing God's work. That's the real proof of our continual conversion -- not the drama of it all but the return to our humdrum lives and the steadfast carrying out of His will for us in the present moment, which we now undertake with renewed vigor and joy because God has poured out His love and mercy upon us. We know with St. Paul that "Indeed, the grace of our Lord has been abundant, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus" (1 Tim 1:13-14). We are sinners in need of constant conversion, no question about it -- but we know the one in whom we put our trust (2 Tim 1:12), and He is our hope and our joy. Alleluia!

I will glorify your name for ever, Lord.

So great has been your compassion toward me.

~Liturgy of the Hours for Conversion of Paul, Apostle

Dear St. Paul,

help me to always be open to conversion

so that I may be transformed as you were

into a vessel of God's grace and glory.

Amen.