Slideshow image

1 Meanwhile Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest 2 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. 3 Now as he was going along and approaching Damascus, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. 4 He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?” 5 He asked, “Who are you, Lord?” The reply came, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. 6 But get up and enter the city, and you will be told what you are to do.” 7 The men who were traveling with him stood speechless because they heard the voice but saw no one. 8 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. 9 For three days he was without sight and neither ate nor drank.

10 Now there was a disciple in Damascus named Ananias. The Lord said to him in a vision, “Ananias.” He answered, “Here I am, Lord.” 11 The Lord said to him, “Get up and go to the street called Straight, and at the house of Judas look for a man of Tarsus named Saul. At this moment he is praying, 12 and he has seen in a vision a man named Ananias come in and lay his hands on him so that he might regain his sight.” 13 But Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much evil he has done to your saints in Jerusalem, 14 and here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who invoke your name.” 15 But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is an instrument whom I have chosen to bring my name before gentiles and kings and before the people of Israel; 16 I myself will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name.” 17 So Ananias went and entered the house. He laid his hands on Saul and said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on your way here, has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” 18 And immediately something like scales fell from his eyes, and his sight was restored. Then he got up and was baptized, 19 and after taking some food, he regained his strength.

For several days he was with the disciples in Damascus, 20 and immediately he began to proclaim Jesus in the synagogues, saying, “He is the Son of God.”

 

The bulk of the reading for today is labelled “The Conversion of Saul” in my Bible. When we hear conversion in a spiritual sense, people can sometimes see this as a massive transformation that completely changes someone. I don’t necessarily see it that way. Conversion is also defined as taking something and adapting it to a new use or purpose.

 

Saul was still Saul after his experiences on the road to Damascus. He was an eloquent person who convinced the leaders to allow him to hunt down these followers of the Way. He was obviously devout in his faith as even upon his blinding he spends three days in prayer. He was a powerful leader and educated. Jesus does not destroy what was there. Instead, Jesus reveals a new truth to Saul. After three days in the dark, the Light of the World reveals a new path for Saul. A path that is going to require every bit of who Saul was before the revelation and more. Jesus reveals the pain and trouble that will come along with this new path. But Saul, recognizing the beauty and truth in the Light cannot do anything else but turn from his old ways and proclaim the Good News of Jesus Christ.

 

God knows us each as well as he knew Saul. He knows our gifts and our hearts. And through Christ’s revealing nature, we can, like Saul, be adapted and shaped to a new, life-giving purpose and mission.

 

 

Holy Father, take all that you have given in me and use it for your Will. Amen.

 

Chad Ryberg

Cryberg@livinglord.org

 

Prayer Concern: Those who are starting new ministries.