Thoughts for the Day

Meanwhile Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any who belonged to the Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. Now as he was going along and approaching Damascus, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, ‘Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?’ He asked, ‘Who are you, Lord?’ The reply came, ‘I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. But get up and enter the city, and you will be told what you are to do.’ The men who were travelling with him stood speechless because they heard the voice but saw no one. Saul got up from the ground, and though his eyes were open, he could see nothing; so they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus. For three days he was without sight, and neither ate nor drank.

(Church in Wales Lectionary, New Revised Standard Version)

Thoughts

When we are completely convinced that we are right about something that it can lead us to taking action, or indeed not taking action, that we deeply regret later. The secret is to ensure we change our future life and learn from our mistakes. There is nothing sadder than someone, at the end of their life, who has enormous regrets about the past.

Today, we remember the Conversion of Paul (his original name was Saul), how Jesus called him to leave his old life behind, and become an Evangelist taking the Good News to countries around the Mediterranean. But hang on, this is after the death of Jesus (and after his Resurrection and Ascension), so what's going on? Saul is an angry and violent man. He hates Jews who are breaking the Law of Moses to follow a condemned criminal as heretics.

Saul was sure that he was doing God's work, only to find that he was mistaken. Jesus calls him to do an about-turn, and become an Evangelist for the new Church. Note he's not the only one who hears the voice. We can only imagine what those travelling with him must think of having to guide this now blind man to Damascus. Saul's change of heart was to accelerate the spread of Christianity as he used his energy and the gifts that God had given him to build new churches throughout the Middle East.

Lord Jesus Christ,
You know we often make mistakes,
even when we're sure we're in the right.
Help us to be honest with ourselves,
ask Your forgiveness,
and where possible make changes
to put things right.
Then may we ask Your guidance
for the future.
Amen.