Monday, January 25, 2021
Feast of the Conversion of Saint Paul, Apostle
“Saul, my brother, na the Lord send me—Jesus wey appear to you for the road wey you take come—so that you go fit see again and Holy Spirit go fill you.” Acts 9:17
Saint Paul (wey dem know for Hebrew as Saul of Tarsus) na Pharisee wey be Jew, wey dey take im religion serious and dey defend the law with all im strength. After Jesus don go up to Heaven, the Christian faith wey just start begin grow fast. Because of this, Saul of Tarsus use all im strength try to stop this new religion wey e believe say dey wrong. E travel from place to place, dey find Jesus followers to arrest and put for prison. Saul even give im consent as dem stone the deacon, Saint Stephen, the first martyr, to death. But for one of im journeys, Saul see Christ wey don rise from death for vision. Christ speak to am gently, say, “Saul, Saul, why you dey persecute Me?” (Acts 9:4). Na for that encounter Saul become blind for three days.
The words wey dey above na wetin Ananias talk. Ananias na disciple of Jesus wey dey take im faith serious. Jesus don also appear to Ananias for vision, tell am make e go meet Saul of Tarsus and lay im hands on am so that e go heal. Jesus also tell Ananias say Saul na “instrument wey I don choose,” wey dem go use preach the Gospel to “Gentiles, kings, and children of Israel.”
Even though plenty things dey for the story of Saint Paul and im conversion wey fit hold person attention, to reflect on how God first turn im heart to Himself fit also inspire us. Jesus no treat Saul harshly. E no condemn am. Instead, E see the goodness and zeal wey Saul get, and E know say Saul go respond if e get the opportunity. Even though Jesus use the powerful action of making Saul blind, E do am because E see say Saul get plenty ability to do good.
This same truth concern our lives too. Each of us get great ability to do good, and God dey see this. God know everything wey E fit do through us, and E dey seek to bring us into Im mission to share the Gospel with people wey need am. The question wey you need think about na whether you don respond to the ways wey God don speak to you and invite you to use your life serve Am. Saul encounter with Jesus get power and change im life, no be only because the vision make am blind—wetin first make the encounter get power and change im life na say Saul want serve God, but e dey try do am for wrong way. And once dem correct that mistake, Saul respond immediately and with im whole self. Because of this, Saul become one of the greatest evangelists for the history of the Church.
Today, reflect on the desire wey dey Jesus heart to invite you into Im mission. Even though you fit no know the many ways wey God fit use you, Jesus know all of them well. E see all your gifts and E know who E want draw to Himself through you. Tell Am “Yes” today, and do am with your whole soul. If you do so, you go allow God do great things through you.
Lord, I truly love You, and I want make You use me for the way wey You choose. Help me turn my heart more fully to You, so that Your gentle and powerful hand go fit lead me. I accept any mission wey You give me, and I pray make my life give You true glory and help Your glorious Kingdom grow for earth. Jesus, na You I trust.
More Reflections on the Gospel
Reflection Dem about God im Mercy
Feast for Today – How Saint Paul, Apostle, Turn to Christ
Main picture wey dey above: Ananias dey make Saint Paul see again
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