Preet Anupam Beck csc –
Readings: Acts 22: 3-16; Mk 16: 15-18
Today we celebrate the feast of the Conversion of Saint Paul. For me, this feast is a call to live a life of witness and to be a messenger of the Gospel to the people who do not know Christ. The clear call for me is to make Jesus known.
In the first reading, St. Paul speaks of the Damascus episode and his encounter with the risen Lord. He had gone to Damascus to arrest Christians but instead, he found out that it was Jesus whom He was persecuting. So, the persecutor became persecuted as he suffered martyrdom in his life. The quality of being an energetic proclaimer of the Lord of Saint Paul inspires me. He was giving his life to protect the law given by Moses before his conversion but after encountering the risen Jesus he became an instrument for the Gentiles to make Him known.
In the Gospel reading, Jesus commands his Disciples to go out into the whole world and preach the Gospel to every creature. Saint Paul in his life preached about Jesus and his message of love. I am invited to imitate this Saint in his enthusiasm to proclaim Jesus. The challenge I find is to be a witness to Jesus each day of my life. But I am convinced that the Lord who gives me this desire to make Jesus known will also give me the strength to do it.