Daily Scripture Reflection & Prayer: January 25, 2024

Date: Thursday of the 3rd Week in Ordinary Time/Conversion of St. Paul  

 Scripture Text:  Acts 22:3-16

Paul addressed the people in these words:"I am a Jew, born in Tarsus in Cilicia, but brought up in this city. At the feet of Gamaliel I was educated strictly in our ancestral law and was zealous for God, just as all of you are today. I persecuted this Way to death, binding both men and women and delivering them to prison. Even the high priest and the whole council of elders can testify on my behalf. For from them I even received letters to the brothers and set out for Damascus to bring back to Jerusalem in chains for punishment those there as well."

On that journey as I drew near to Damascus, about noon a great light from the sky   suddenly shone around me. I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me, 'Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?' I replied, 'Who are you, sir?' And he said to me, 'I am Jesus the Nazorean whom you are persecuting.' My companions saw the light but did not hear the voice of the one who spoke to me. I asked, 'What shall I do, sir?' The Lord answered me, 'Get up and go into Damascus, and there you will be told about everything appointed for you to do.' Since I could see nothing because of the brightness of that light, I was led by hand by my companions and entered Damascus.

"A certain Ananias, a devout observer of the law, and highly spoken of by all the Jews who lived there, came to me and stood there and said, 'Saul, my brother, regain your sight.' And at that very moment I regained my sight and saw him. Then he said, 'The God of our ancestors designated you to know his will, to see the Righteous One, and to hear the sound of his voice; for you will be his witness before all to what you have seen and heard. Now, why delay? Get up and have yourself baptized and your sins washed away, calling upon his name.'"

Breaking the text open – background and summary:

The first reading today for the Feast of the Conversion of Paul gives Paul’s own account of his encounter with Christ on the road to Damascus and the revelation that he was become an Apostle for Christ. This account, from the Book of the Acts of the Apostles, gives Paul’s history of being a persecutor of “The Way,” of the followers of Christ, until he himself experienced Christ’s power and presence. Blinded by the brightness of the light of Christ, Paul was led to Damascus where Ananias, a devout Jewish Christian, brought him healing and revealed to him that He had been chosen by the LORD to experience Christ, to hear His voice, so that he might become a great witness himself to the Son of God.

Christ’s words to Paul remained with him throughout his ministry: “why are you persecuting me?” Paul came to realize that in Christ, all our brothers and sisters are members of the living Body of Christ.  He used that image of the Body of Christ often within his letters and teachings.

Meditating on the text with personal questions:

Where and when have I experienced Christ? Has my heart been open enough to hear His words? Has my mind been open enough to recognize His presence?

Praying:

LORD, Jesus Christ, Son of God, our redeemer and Lord, we come before You this day in awe of the Father’s love for us that necessitated your incarnation and your selfless sacrifice upon the cross for our sins. We hold the memory of your love that allowed You to pay such a price for us in our hearts and minds. Send your Spirit, Lord, to stir within us daily the courage to speak of You and your great love for us wherever we go and whatever we do, through word and deed. Be with us, Lord, for we recognize that without You, we can do nothing. Amen.