What happened on the road to Damascus?

Paul went out from the Holy City carrying letters from the Jewish high priest addressed to the Synagogues of Damascus and which authorised him to hunt down anyone professing to be a Christian "and to drive them back in chains to Jerusalem." The Acts of the Apostles notes that from his earliest adolescence, Paul had prepared to oppose violently those who followed Christ. However, as he approaches Damascus, at about midday, and, with but a few kilometers remaining, the miracle occurs.

The Light of Christ which shone around him was sufficient to finish his mission of persecution. One journey ended, and, another began. In a heavenly vision, Jesus of Nazareth challenges and changes Paul's strongest convictions .... and this new direction in life Paul freely accepts. "I am Jesus whom you persecute." These words were sufficient to cause Paul to proclaim "...that Jesus is the Son of God and Jesus is the Christ.” He says in his second letter to the Corinthians, "It is the same God who said, 'Let there be light shining out of darkness', who has shone in our minds to radiate the light of the knowledge of God's glory, the glory on the face of Christ." (2Cor 4:6)

In today's reading from the letter to the Galatians (1:11-19) Paul tells us that the Gospel he preaches is not a message of human origin but was something he had received as a revelation from Jesus Christ. He offers as proof of this a life completely reformed from persecutor of those who followed Christ to preacher of Jesus Christ – and all this because he believed in God who had called him through grace. In like manner, God has called us before we were born, and, He has set us apart to be His witnesses.

Issam John Darwish BSO, DD

Eparch

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