48. BITESIZE CATECHISM: THE CONVERSION OF ST. PAUL & THE GIFT OF JUSTIFICATION

 

APPETIZER: The grace of the Holy Spirit has the power to justify us, that is, to cleanse us from our sins and to communicate to us the holiness of God through faith in Jesus Christ and through Baptism. The first action of this grace of the Holy Spirit working in us is conversion in accordance with Jesus' proclamation at the beginning of the Gospel: "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." Moved by this grace, a person turns toward God and away from sin, accepting forgiveness and righteousness from on high. "Justification means not only the remission of sins, but also the sanctification and renewal of the inner-person. Justification frees us from spiritual alienation from God and purifies our hearts of sin. Justification comes from God's merciful free initiative (that is, we don't earn it) . (see CCC #1989-1990)

MAIN COURSE: On January 25 we celebrate the feast of the Conversion of St. Paul which led to his justification (freedom from sin, spiritual renewal) by receiving the Sacrament of Baptism. What an awesome day for all of us because we all owe so much to him who was the greatest of the early Christian missionaries.

Paul first appears in the Acts of the Apostles under the name of Saul. Saul was raised in the Jewish faith as a Pharisee trained in the strict observance of God’s Law. The Pharisees believed that absolute adherence to Jewish religious law was how a person was made pleasing in God’s sight. Saul looked upon Christianity as an unacceptable corruption of Judaism. He actively persecuted the Christians in Jerusalem and approved of the execution of the first Christian martyr, the Deacon St. Stephen.

Paul then traveled to Damascus (Syria) to further persecute early Christians. On the road to Damascus Saul had an encounter with the Risen Jesus Christ who said to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” Paul replied, “Who are you, sir?” Jesus responded, “I am Jesus whom you are persecuting.” Then Jesus sent Saul, who was shaken and blinded by the experience, into Damascus to await further instructions. When a Christian named Ananias came and baptized Saul, the blindness went away.

As a result of this encounter Saul was now convinced about the truth of Christianity: that trusting in the Risen Lord Jesus Christ, and not in the Law, was all that was needed to receive God’s promise of salvation. Now going by his Roman name of Paul, he spent the rest of his life focusing bringing Christ to the non-Jewish world, establishing local churches, and writing to them when he heard of their accomplishments or failures. Paul’s letters are the earliest records of the life and history of the early Church and have become the largest part of the New Testament. They are an invaluable record of the expansion of the Christianity in the Mediterranean world.

In a nutshell, the Theology of St. Paul (i.e., his religious teachings) that we hear read at Mass can be summarized as this: Jesus Christ has already accomplished salvation for us, destroying sin with its ultimate effect of death and offering us the gift of eternal life. By trusting in him and receiving the Sacrament of Baptism, we Christians become temples of the Holy Spirit, who is our bond of communion (i.e., our link) with the Father through the Son. The Holy Spirit helps us to live out this deep mystical personal relationship with God and unites us with all others who have been baptized and who together form the one Mystical Body of Christ (i.e., Christ’s Church) on planet Earth. We are thus equipped and empowered to carry on the message and mission of Jesus to all people until the end of the world.

We all stand in need of the gift of justification simply by virtue of our human nature.  Indeed, it was for this very reason that God the Son became human.  All of us (with the exception of Jesus and Mary) have been conceived and born into this world in a state of spiritual alienation from God and so are in need of spiritual healing and wholeness. Traditionally this has been called "original sin" (since it originated in the human race with Adam and Eve).  The Sacrament of Baptism is the ordinary way which Jesus gave us to bring about this first work of justification within us. 

But as we all know from experience, being baptized in and of itself, without embracing and living what it means, is not sufficient for our spiritual growth. Jesus knew this too, of course, and so he gave us the other Sacraments to help us live out pour Baptism. Confirmation strengthens it within us. Eucharist feeds it spiritually. Confession heals and forgives when we go astray. Along with these Sacraments, we need to develop lives of prayer and strive for virtuous living according to the Word of God and empowered by the Holy Spirit. 

St. Paul the Apostles is a perfect example of all these things. He shows us how lives can be transformed like his own. He teaches us Christian behavior in his Letters. Get to know St. Paul and his Christian teaching by reading a from his Letters and pondering what he has to say.  Remember that his words are not just his own but are inspired by the Spirit as part of the Word of God to lead us deeper and deeper into a personal and Church-supported relationship with Christ.

DOGGIE-BAG: A little something to take with you for spiritual snacking…

Holy Quotes...the story of Paul's conversion retold by St. Luke...

Saul was uttering threats with every breath and was eager to kill the Lord’s followers. So he went to the high priest. He requested letters addressed to the synagogues in Damascus, asking for their cooperation in the arrest of any followers of the Way he found there. He wanted to bring them—both men and women—back to Jerusalem in chains. As he was approaching Damascus on this mission, a light from heaven suddenly shone down around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul! Saul! Why are you persecuting me?” “Who are you, lord?” Saul asked. And the voice replied, “I am Jesus, the one you are persecuting! Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”

The men with Saul stood speechless, for they heard the sound of someone’s voice but saw no one! Saul picked himself up off the ground, but when he opened his eyes, he was blind. So, his companions led him by the hand to Damascus. He remained there blind for three days and did not eat or drink. Now there was a believer in Damascus named Ananias. The Lord spoke to him in a vision, calling, “Ananias!” “Yes, Lord!” he replied. The Lord said, “Go over to Straight Street, to the house of Judas. When you get there, ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul. He is praying to me right now. I have shown him a vision of a man named Ananias coming in and laying hands on him so he can see again.” “But Lord,” exclaimed Ananias, “I’ve heard many people talk about the terrible things this man has done to the believers in Jerusalem! And he is authorized by the leading priests to arrest everyone who calls upon your name.”

But the Lord said, “Go, for Saul is my chosen instrument to take my message to the Gentiles and to kings, as well as to the people of Israel. And I will show him how much he must suffer for my name’s sake.” So, Ananias went and found Saul. He laid his hands on him and said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road, has sent me so that you might regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” Instantly something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and he regained his sight. Then he got up and was baptized. (Book of Acts 9:1-9)

Prayer to St. Paul the Apostle

Glorious Saint Paul, Most zealous apostle, Martyr for the love of Christ, Give us a deep faith, A steadfast hope, A burning love for our Lord, So that we can proclaim with you, 'It is no longer I who live, But Christ who lives in me.'  Help us to become apostles, Serving the Church with a pure heart, Witnesses to her truth and beauty Amidst the darkness of our days. With you we praise God our Father: 'To him be the glory, in the Church And in Christ, now and forever.' Amen.

Scripture Verse to Memorize: "Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out.  Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance." (St. Paul's most famous words from 1 Corinthians 13:4-7)