St. Paul Leads Us To Christ

Homily for the Conversion of St. Paul
Acts 22.3-16 Psalm 117 1 Corinthians 7.29-31 Mark 16.15-18
Note: The Church celebrates the Feast of the Conversion of St. Paul each year on January 25. Typically, when this day falls on a Sunday, the Sunday takes precedence and the Conversion of St. Paul is not celebrated. However, Pope Benedict XVI asked that churches celebrate the Conversion of St. Paul this year during the International Year of St. Paul.

For us who are citizens of the United States of America, this past Tuesday was a historic day. Regardless of your political views or voting record, no one can deny the monumental significance of a day when an African-American is inaugurated as President of this great country. In the days leading up to this historic inauguration, there had been much talk of freedom, of hope, and of conviction. There has been talk of unity and strength, dreams and visions that were unforeseeable even a generation ago. But as monumental as this day was for this history of our country, this is not what brings us together today. We gather here today – as we do on every Sunday – not as citizens of the United States – we gather here as Christians, as followers of Jesus Christ, crucified and risen. And this weekend, we gather to remember a particular Christian whose understanding of freedom, hope, and conviction helped to shape a people and inspire a world to follow one man, and one man only: the Son of God. St. Paul, an apostle and missionary of Jesus Christ, was a man of singular purpose: to preach the gospel to the whole world, so that salvation will come to those who believe with their hearts and confess with their mouth that Jesus is Lord. St. Paul taught us what true freedom means, he gave his life in service of unity and peace, and his conviction and strength led countless people to the foot of the cross, and to the garden that held an empty tomb.

Perhaps the most important thing we can learn from today’s feast of the Conversion of St. Paul is that it is not about him. We honor St. Paul not as the founder of our faith or the source of blessings. We honor St. Paul because he helped lead us to Christ. When he saw the light and heard the voice on the road to Damascus, St. Paul’s life changed because it became totally focused on someone else – it became totally focused on Jesus, the Son of God. St. Paul himself would not have wanted to be remembered, as long as we took to heart the words he spoke about the one person his life was centered on. For us Christians, each day that we confess, with Paul, that Jesus is Lord, is a historic day, a day of monumental significance. Because on this day, as on every day, the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ has the power to transform lives. On this day, as on every day, the grace and peace that the Holy Spirit brings can unite all peoples of the world under the one banner of love. On this day, as on every day, the gospel that St. Paul preached continues to stir up the world and lead us to Christ. For this is a historic day – this is the day of our salvation.