Friday 07 March 2008

Background

Saul (before he became the apostle Paul) was so sure that he wasright in putting down the Christian heresy that his authoritativeand cruel action in persecuting Christians perhaps betrayed hisunderlying state of tension. Did he wonder whether the people of'the Way' might be right after all?

Suddenly he was floored by a bright light that temporarily took hissight and the strong man became vulnerable. Saul who was leadingthe persecution of the first Christians needed to be led into a newand bewildering world in which the living person of Christ wasundeniable. Saul knew his perceptions had completely swung over andthat he had changed sides. He needed to know more.

Ananias, the praying disciple brought to Saul by a vision torestore his sight, must have needed extraordinary courage to meetand confront the man who had been such a notorious danger to theearly Christians. The Church community would also need great graceto receive someone who was such a rank outsider.

However, as the scales fell from Saul's eyes he saw himself andothers in a new light and began to prepare for a radicallydifferent way of life… immediately voicing his faith inJesus.

Because of its inclusive nature, the Church should be able toreceive 'eccentrics' - those who are 'out of the circle' andchallengingly different in background. The poet John Betjeman inhis poem on conversion (The Conversion of St. Paul, 1955) asks what such a turn-aroundis and answers the question with the neat definition 'turning roundto gaze upon a love profound'. Presumably some people have to beturned right around with a sharp shock and others simply deflectedat an angle to see such love according to their previous attitudesand insights. We all need to be regularly realigned.

Saul came to recognise this encounter with the risen Christ as hiscommissioning as an apostle. Any experience or encounter withChrist that comes to us is not just a moment of inner realisationand personal redirection, but also a commissioning to share andtell. It leaves us feeling honoured yet humbled, strong yetvulnerable.

To Ponder

How far do you need to turn around to get in linewith divine love? (The thing you "protest too much" about may giveyou a clue...)

How can you prayerfully allow the compass needleof spiritual perception to swing round towards God?