The Feast of St Paul’s Conversion

   Why would the Church dedicate a day to celebrate the conversion of someone who once persecutes Her?  Sure, he became a great Apostle and spread the Faith.  He even wrote most of the New Testament.  This man was on fire for the love of Jesus and desired to spread this love to others.  Yet, why is his conversion worthy of a feast day?

   For one, it shows what God can do with a great sinner.  St Paul was persecuting the early Church.  And then Jesus confronted then-Saul in a vision, knocking him off of his horse.  Saul then became Paul and a great ambassador for Jesus.  He was doing evil and repented.  We may not persecute Jesus like Saul, but we can repent like he did to fully accept our new existence as children of God within the Church.

   Another reason St Paul’s conversion is remembered is because St Paul was not lukewarm before or after his encounter with Jesus.  Jesus tells us of his complete and utter disgust for those who are lukewarm.  “I know your works; I know that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either cold or hot. So, because you are lukewarm, neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth.” [Revelation 3:15-16]  In some translations, it is “vomit you out of my mouth”.

   St Paul, before his conversion, was definitely cold to Jesus.  He was persecuting every remnant of Jesus he could find.  And once confronted by Jesus, Saul had to choose between becoming hot or remaining cold.  However, those who are lukewarm do not care.  When you confront someone who does not care, they simply continue not caring.  We must choose hot or cold.  To remain in the “middle” is a losing decision.  It is devoid of any real decision, but is a decision in itself.  It is just not a decision that will lead to our eternal happiness.

   St Paul, you were never lukewarm and thus became on fire for Jesus when confronted by Jesus, help us never to be lukewarm and to decide to be on fire for Jesus, that we might enjoy eternal happiness with you in Heaven. Amen.