Thoughts for the Day

You have heard, no doubt, of my earlier life in Judaism. I was violently persecuting the church of God and was trying to destroy it. I advanced in Judaism beyond many among my people of the same age, for I was far more zealous for the traditions of my ancestors. But when God, who had set me apart before I was born and called me through his grace, was pleased to reveal his Son to me, so that I might proclaim him among the Gentiles, I did not confer with any human being, nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were already apostles before me, but I went away at once into Arabia, and afterwards I returned to Damascus.

Then after three years I did go up to Jerusalem to visit Cephas and stayed with him for fifteen days; but I did not see any other apostle except James the Lord’s brother. In what I am writing to you, before God, I do not lie! Then I went into the regions of Syria and Cilicia, and I was still unknown by sight to the churches of Judea that are in Christ; they only heard it said, ‘The one who formerly was persecuting us is now proclaiming the faith he once tried to destroy.’ And they glorified God because of me.

(Lectionary, New Revised Standard Version)

Thoughts

When a man or woman is selected to be trained as a priest in the Anglican Church (and it's similar for Lay Readers) they come to a Selection Conference. This is likely to be similar for most mainstream Christian denominations. A person cannot be considered unless they are recommended by those who know them best. It's a warts and all process, and it starts a time of introspection; of learning about one's strengths and weaknesses; as well as a time of education. It's likely to be three years before they are ordained a deacon, and a year later they may be priested. At that point they start continuing ministerial education, which should be life-long, as they continue to deepen their relationship with God.

In his explanation to the Galatians about how he comes to be an Apostle, Paul says after Jesus had spoken to him and commissioned him to spread the good news of the Gospel, he went to Arabia. He needed time to get his head round what had happened. How could he, who had been "violently persecuting" Christians, now be a supporter and advocate for Jesus? We don't exactly know how long he was away or who might have helped him, but we do know that his first mission was to go back to Damascus where he had been set on destroying the church. It was three years before he went to Jerusalem and spoke to Cephas (Peter) and to Jesus' brother, James.

Can we try to imagine the bravery that was needed to carry out such an 'about-face' in going to Damascus, and then later to Jerusalem? In today's world he would undoubtedly have been attacked and probably murdered. But once Jesus had called him nothing was going to stop Paul from his God-given mission as an Apostle to the Gentiles.

Lord God,
we are not Apostles,
but we know that You give each one of us
a mission if only we will listen and accept it.
Sometimes we are too scared to accept the task
of sharing our faith with others,
or too wrapped up in the things of this world
to set aside time to pray for Your church
and for the world,
or we are too busy to accept the challenge
to learn more about You.
Make us aware of our responsibilities as a Christian
that we may continue Your work on earth.
Amen.