DIVINE WHISPER with FR. PIUSRALPH EFFIONG, SMMM

TUESDAY OF THE THIRD WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME YEAR (II)

Mystery of the day: Sorrowful

Celebration of the day

Conversion of St. Paul

The birth name of St. Paul was Saul and he was born in Tarsus for Jewish parents. He was a Roman citizen by birth and he took education at the feet of Gamaliel. He was brought up as a Pharisee.  He was persecuting Christians before and he was a willing witness to the martyrdom of St. Stephen, where he guarded the clothes of Jews who were throwing stones on St. Stephen. then he also entered house to house and dragged out Christians and handed them over to imprisonment.  His conversion to Christianity is by a miracle done by Jesus. He got authority from the Chief Priest and the Sanhedrim to arrest Christians at Damascus. When he was on his way suddenly a light covered him and he has fallen down. Jesus told him that'I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting' (Acts 9 - 5). After this incident St. Paul became blind suddenly and could not see anything. But he regained his eye sight by the blessing of Ananias, as directed by Jesus. From that instant he became a very strong Christian and used his education to propagate Christianity among the Gentiles. He was instrumental in taking Christ to Gentiles by his hard work and through his letters. Tradition says that St. Paul was martyred along with St. Peter during the persecution of Emperor Nero.

Reflection for the day

Theme: Go into the world and bear witness

"Go into all the world and preach the gospel to the whole creation. He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned." (Mark 16:15ff.)

Beloved in Christ, peace and love of Christ Jesus be with you all. Amen.

Today, as we join the universal Church in celebrating the conversion of St. Paul, God puts before us two things:

i. A mandate to go into the world.

ii. Then to bear fruit.

This divine mandate borne out of God's invitation to us to co-particpate in building His kingdom on earth. As it contains in the proclamation of Evangelist Mark one of the sypnotic writers: 

"Go into all the world and preach the gospel to the whole creation. He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned." (Mark 16:15ff.)

This Mandatum gives us the unction to function as Christ's faithful through the reception of the Sacrament of Baptism which initiates us into the Mystical Body of Christ (the Church). 

However, we are being reminded of the fact that, this solemn command is a sign to bear witness to what we believe and practice not minding challenges that may face us. God Himself has assured us right from time immemorial that He will not desert us and has launch us into great exploit as Evangelist John says:

"I chose you from the world that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, says the Lord" (John 15:16)

Let us therefore, bear fruits, not any kind of fruits but only fruits that will last and the world will see and glorify our Father in Heaven.

Peace, be with you.

Let us pray

Dearest Lord, we are grateful to You for the gift of life, for it's sustenance and hope amidst every hopeless situation. Grant we pray the grace to be faithful to Your command in witnessing to the Truth through our day-to-day living. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

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