From The Desk of Deacon Judy

The Conversion of St. Paul (January 25th)

Father Rob spoke so powerfully last Sunday about his call and our call, how we often struggle to say “yes” to Jesus, that it may take years to live into fully the call to serve our Lord. Rather than drop everything and immediately follow Jesus like the first disciples, we may be more like Jonah and choose to run away before God pulls us back.

We know the story of Paul, how Jesus got his attention on the road to Damascus, how Jesus zapped him blind, how the scales fell from his eyes, and how he saw life in a new way. He truly became a new creation – from an orthodox Jew whose mission was to destroy this new heresy of the followers of Jesus to a devout believer who planted churches throughout Asia Minor and welcomed Gentiles as well as Jews into this new Jesus movement.

When we welcome God into our life, He changes us and changes our name. Abram became Abraham. Jacob became Israel. Saul became Paul. Our Alleluia III Song “I Will Change Your Name” (p. 84) reveals the power and comfort of a new life in Christ:

I will change your name

You shall no longer be called

Wounded, outcast, lonely or afraid

I will change your name

Your new name shall be

Confidence, joyfulness, overcoming one

Faithfulness, friend of God

One who seeks My face

Now I doubt many of us will have such a dramatic conversion experience as Saul/Paul on the road to Damascus, though some of us may. However when God/Jesus/the Holy Spirit grabs us, we are wise to lean into that call, open ourselves to this wonderful experience of transformation, for our own lives and for the lives of others.

Thanks be to God, Judy Q+