Today we celebrate St. Paul’s Conversion on the road to Damascus. For some it is a dramatic out of the blue moment, when Jesus revealed Himself to Paul. Others see it as a process; probably begun even as he watched St. Stephen at his martyrdom. It is remarkable, that Saul the persecutor in chief became the leading proclaimer of the faith and the teacher of the faith. These require conviction, and faith. And all these are there to be seen in St. Paul.
2 Cor 11:
But whatever anyone else dares to boast of—I am speaking as a fool—I also dare to boast of that. 22 Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they offspring of Abraham? So am I. 23 Are they servants of Christ? I am a better one—I am talking like a madman—with far greater labors, far more imprisonments, with countless beatings, and often near death. 24 Five times I received at the hands of the Jews the forty lashes less one. 25 Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I was adrift at sea; 26 on frequent journeys, in danger from rivers, danger from robbers, danger from my own people, danger from Gentiles, danger in the city, danger in the wilderness, danger at sea, danger from false brothers; 27 in toil and hardship, through many a sleepless night, in hunger and thirst, often without food,[b] in cold and exposure. 28 And, apart from other things, there is the daily pressure on me of my anxiety for all the churches. 29 Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is made to fall, and I am not indignant?
Courtesy - BibleGateway.com
You can see in Paul’s tone, in the passage above, single-mindedness, zeal and conviction. But we see also in this passage, God’s faithfulness towards Paul. And the Gospel Text becomes relatable, and accepted, because as much as what the world may throw at you, ‘God keeps you safe’.
To gain such experiences, one cannot acquire them in the comfort of our chairs or wood and brick churches. We must welcome the Holy Spirit to take control of our lives and lead us. Paul certainly lived what he believed and was convicted was the truth.