Saint Paul's roller coaster (Acts 13-14)

Saint Paul never rode a roller coaster. He wouldn't have needed to. His missionary journeys are a series of wild ups and downs. 

Paul's first missionary journey takes him (together with Barnabas) from Antioch in Syria to several cities in Asia Minor (what is now Turkiye). Paul and Barnabas share the Good News in the synagogues to Jews and "God-fearing" Gentiles. The latter are likely Gentiles who are respectful of and interested in Judaism but are unable or unwilling to convert because of the stringent Mosaic laws, including the requirement of circumcision. Paul's speech in Acts 13, similar to earlier speeches from Peter and Stephen, recounts salvation history from the time of Moses and David to the ministry of Jesus, identifying Him as the Messiah foretold by the prophets who has rescued His people from the twin scourges of sin and death. 

The Good News invariably thrills some and threatens others. In Antioch in Pisidia, Paul's speech so inspires the congregation that nearly "the whole city" comes to the synagogue next week to hear him speak. The Jewish leaders and prominent men and women of the city "stirred up a persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them from their territory" (Acts 13:50). Shaking the dust from their feet, Paul and Barnabas preach next in Iconium. Again "the people of the city were divided: some were with the Jews; others, with the apostles" (Acts 14:4). Only now the threats against Paul and Barnabas escalate, with the enemies of Jesus plotting to stone and kill the apostles. Paul and Barnabas flee from there to Lystra, where Paul heals a man who had been lame from birth. So impressed are the people that they begin to worship Paul and Barnabas as gods! Paul and Barnabas (in sharp contrast to King Herod earlier) quickly rebuke the crowds and direct the people's reverence to God. However, enemies from Antioch and Iconium have followed Paul and Barnabas to Lystra and stir up the fickle crowds against them. With the matter-of-fact understatement characteristic of Sacred Scripture, Luke reports, "They stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing that he was dead" (Acts 14:19). But God had bigger plans for Paul. He survived and continued on his journey with Barnabas.

Throughout his first missionary journey and all his subsequent missionary journeys, Paul remains remarkably joyful, undeterred by the many setbacks and seemingly unsurmountable obstacles he faces. Having been ejected from Antioch in Pisidia, Luke reports that "the disciples were filled with joy and the holy Spirit" (Acts 13:52). When they revisit the same cities on their way home, Paul and Barnabas "strengthened the spirits of the disciples and exhorted them to persevere in the faith, saying, 'It is necessary for us to undergo many hardships to enter the kingdom of God'" (Acts 14:22). And when they complete their journey, "they called the church together" to share the joyful news of "what God had done with them and how he had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles" (Acts 14:27). 

Saint Paul is a model for us of remaining joyful and hopeful despite whatever obstacles we encounter, knowing that God is at work in all things for our salvation and the salvation of many souls. Saint Faustina, laboring for souls in a different way and a different but no less difficult time, offered this prayer to God showing her acceptance of God's will in all things:

"Bid me to stay in this convent, I will stay; bid me to undertake the work, I will undertake it; leave me in uncertainty about the work until I die, be blessed; give me death when, humanly speaking, my life seems particularly necessary, be blessed. Should You take me in my youth, be blessed; should You let me live to a ripe old age, be blessed. Should You give me health and strength, be blessed; should You confine me to a bed of pain for my whole life, be blessed. Should you give only failures and disappointments in life, be blessed. Should You allow my purest intentions to be condemned, be blessed. Should You enlighten my mind, be blessed. Should You leave me in darkness and all kinds of torments, be blessed."

In the next passage, Saint Faustina describes the deep peace that is the fruit of this total surrender to God:

"From this moment on, I live in the deepest peace, because the Lord himself is carrying me in the hollow of His hand. He, Lord of unfathomable mercy, knows that I desire Him alone in all things, always and everywhere."

Saint Faustina concludes with this prayer:

"O Jesus, stretched out upon the cross, I implore You, give me the grace of doing faithfully the most holy will of Your Father, in all things, always and everywhere. And when this will of God will seem to me very harsh and difficult to fulfill, it is then I beg You, Jesus, may power and strength flow upon me from Your wounds, and may my lips keep repeating, 'Your will be done, O Lord.' O Savior of the world, Lover of man's salvation, who in such terrible torment and pain forget Yourself to think only of the salvation of souls, O most compassionate Jesus, grant me the grace to forget myself that I may live totally for souls, helping You in the work of salvation, according to the most holy will of Your Father...." (Divine Mercy in my Soul: The Diary of Saint Faustina Kowalska, 1264-1265).

Pray the Divine Mercy Chaplet every day for the salvation of souls.