Friday, October 3, 2014

Conversion: A Lifetime Process

In today’s Epistle, we hear Paul’s account of his conversion as he retells it to the Jewish people:
 
Paul Defends Himself
Just as Paul was about to be brought into the barracks, he said to the tribune, ‘May I say something to you?’ The tribune replied, ‘Do you know Greek? Then you are not the Egyptian who recently stirred up a revolt and led the four thousand assassins out into the wilderness?’ Paul replied, ‘I am a Jew, from Tarsus in Cilicia, a citizen of an important city; I beg you, let me speak to the people.’ When he had given him permission, Paul stood on the steps and motioned to the people for silence; and when there was a great hush, he addressed them in the Hebrew* language, saying: ‘Brothers and fathers, listen to the defense that I now make before you.’ When they heard him addressing them in Hebrew, they became even more quiet. Then he said: ‘I am a Jew, born in Tarsus in Cilicia, but brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, educated strictly according to our ancestral law, being zealous for God, just as all of you are today. I persecuted this Way up to the point of death by binding both men and women and putting them in prison, as the high priest and the whole council of elders can testify about me. From them I also received letters to the brothers in Damascus, and I went there in order to bind those who were there and to bring them back to Jerusalem for punishment.
 
Paul Tells of His Conversion
‘While I was on my way and approaching Damascus, about noon a great light from heaven suddenly shone about me. I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” I answered, “Who are you, Lord?” Then he said to me, “I am Jesus of Nazareth whom you are persecuting.” Now those who were with me saw the light but did not hear the voice of the one who was speaking to me. I asked, “What am I to do, Lord?” The Lord said to me, “Get up and go to Damascus; there you will be told everything that has been assigned to you to do.” Since I could not see because of the brightness of that light, those who were with me took my hand and led me to Damascus.
 
‘A certain Ananias, who was a devout man according to the law and well spoken of by all the Jews living there, came to me; and standing beside me, he said, “Brother Saul, regain your sight!” In that very hour I regained my sight and saw him. Then he said, “The God of our ancestors has chosen you to know his will, to see the Righteous One and to hear his own voice; for you will be his witness to all the world of what you have seen and heard. And now why do you delay? Get up, be baptized, and have your sins washed away, calling on his name.”  (Acts 21:37-22:16).
 
What a transformation! From persecuting Jesus’ followers to standing before the authorities answering for being a follower of Jesus.  It was a complete turn around.  How many of  us who profess to be followers of Jesus can truly say that our lives have been turned around?  For most of us the transformation is unlike Paul’s; rather, it is a transformation that occurs daily over a life time.
 
Let us pray:  Gracious God, you sent your Son to free us from sin and death and to reconcile us to you.  May the Holy Spirit be ever with us transforming us more and more into the image of your Son.  Amen.
 
CALENDAR REMINDERS
 
The 6th Annual Art Show, “Let There Be Light,” begins this Saturday with the award of the prizes.  Please be there for this event which reaches out to the community.  It will run the entire week.
 
Blessing of the Animals for the Feast of St. Francis will be Saturday the 11th of October at 10 AM on the front lawn by the cross.
 
We will continue with our Adult Christian Education series, Islam in Focus, on Sunday, 12 October at 11 AM.
 
Please remember everyone on our Prayer List.
 
Your servant in Christ,
 
Fr. Chester J. Makowski+
St. Augustine of Hippo Episcopal Church
Galveston, Texas 77550


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