Go Out To All The World And Tell The Good News

Acts 9:1-20
John 6:52-59

Saul was a student of Gamaliel but unlike his teacher, who seems to be patient with the new enterprise arising from conversion into following Jesus, Saul was quick to strike. He was a terror among new converts to Christianity. He was present at Stephen’s death and those that stoned Stephen kept their robes at his feet. He opposed the Gospel and led the persecution of Christians, He wanted more, so he sets for Damascus to get a writ of approval. As he was approaching Damascus,, suddenly a light from heaven flashed about him. And he fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him,
“Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?”
And he said, “Who are you, Lord?”
And he said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting;
but rise and enter the city, and you will be told what you are to do.”
(Acts 9:3-6). This was the start of his conversion.Paul’s encounter with the person of Christ radically changed his life and opened his eyes to the truth of the Gospel.

The event had such a profound effect on Saul that he became a firm believer in Christ & became a fearless preacher of the Good News. Saul now prefers to be called Paul because of his Roman citizenship to be an Apostle to the Gentiles. The persecutor became the preacher; the stubborn Pharisee turned into an ambassador for Christ; the Jew now reaching out to gentiles. A threat turned promoter. Thus, conversion is truly the heart of the Christian experience. He was determined to do something else but now his determination is in defense of the Christian Way. He is willing to face imprisonment, suffering, and even death in order to help spread the Word and proclaim the Good News to all creation.

In today’s gospel, Jesus is clarifying all that He has said so far about being the bread of life which brings eternal life to the believers who receive Him into their hearts. It may not seem as dramatic as Saul’s conversion, but we, like Saul, encounter Jesus, in the Eucharist. And again, like Saul, our encounter with Jesus, though not as earth-shaking as Saul’s, is meant to change our lives and the lives of those we come across. Paul’s conversion is set before us today as a daily encounter with the Lord. May the Lord light up our way, enlighten us and strengthen us on our life journey.

Fr Joseph Osho