Jan. 25 - The Conversion of St. Paul

Today (Jan. 25) commemorates the Conversion of St. Paul. Today's reading is from the Second Lesson for this day, II Corinthians 12:1-9.

People look at those who have conversion experiences with skepticism.

The drunk who quits drinking... can he stay dry?
The liar who discovers the Truth... can he really be believed?
The bigot who starts to love his neighbor... aren't we waiting for the next racial joke?
The one who cheats on his wife... what do we think when he's late from work?

St. Paul's Conversion is no exception. His reputation as a Christ-persecuting zealot, a legalist of the legalistic Pharisees, and a holier-than-thou schemer was well-founded. So it was only natural that when he had his conversion experience on the Damascus Road, Christians everywhere feared his arrival. His missionary trips in new territory met with great success, but when he approached areas where there were already Christians fear and dread was de rigeur.

Paul describes his conversion in II Corinthians 12. He used the third person to describe it. Maybe he chose a more abstract manner to tell his story in order to allay fears about whether or not his conversion was real.

I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago... caught up to the third heaven. And I knew such a man... How that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter. Of such an one will I glory: yet of myself I will not glory, but in mine infirmities.

By avoiding telling the story about himself, Paul helps us to look at the glory of the One Who saved him.

It's not that Paul didn't want his conversion story to be about him: "For though I would desire to glory, I shall not be a fool." Whenever we make 'being saved' or 'converted' or 'born again' about ourselves, we miss the whole point of salvation. God saves because that is His Essence to save us. It was never His desire that we should be lost.

God gives us means to remain humble. For Adam, it was the forbidden fruit. For Noah, it was the ark. For Moses, it was his stammering tongue. For David, it was his wandering eye.

And for Paul it was his "thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure."

This is the whole point of conversion. Not to see a bright light on a country road. Not to be knocked from a horse in fear. Not to hear the voice of God from Heaven.

Instead, in the process of conversion, it should be my prayer to hear the voice of the Lord saying "My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness."

And with the Apostle, I will say to any who will hear: "Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me."