Readings: At 9.1-22 / Ps 116 / Mk 16.15-18
A EYES OFF
The memory of the Apostle Paul's conversion, which came late (X sec.) Feasts of the Roman calendar, offers the entire Christian community an opportunity to meditate on the transformation that the Spirit of the Risen Lord wants to accomplish in the life of "every creature" (Mark 16:15) baptized in his name. While we are rather inclined to think that conversion is a strong and sudden change of life, reserved for special people, Paul's experience gives us the image of a mysterious process that is waiting to be realized in the hearts of everyone. The episode critical of this route - told three times in the book of Acts and in Galatians - happens to Saul on the road to Damascus, where he is on his way to "bring them bound to Jerusalem" all the disciples of the Lord "that he found, men and women belonging to this Way "(Acts 9:2). Paul the Pharisee, full of "zeal for God" (22:3) and belief in what he is doing, is suddenly "on land" blinded by "a light from heaven" (9.3), while a voice forced him to go find the motivation for his "spirit of threats and killings" in the name of God, "Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?" (9.4). The grace of the Lord intervenes in the future Apostle of the Gentiles in the form of light that obscures his view: "Saul got up from the ground but then he opened his eyes he could see nothing" (9.8).
Although each of us can not enter the process of conversion if not dull eyes, since the overthrow interior inspired by the Spirit is not the passage from sin to grace, but a better Focus on the face of God, which translates into a renewed look at the reality. Before you give us a new way to go, the Lord needs to destroy the false image of him who dwells in our hearts, accompanying to the essential question: "Who are you, Lord?" (9.5). Only after accepting the destruction of the heart that thinks just, and have questioned the authenticity of the zeal in which phobias are often hidden and narcissism, can be filled with "Holy Spirit" (9:17) and become an "instrument" in God's hands, even prepared to "suffer" (9:16) because of the "Gospel" (Mk 16:15).
Faced with this unexpected havoc within, Paul can not do anything but be guided "by hand" (Acts 9:8) from others, to be able to recognize brothers in God's voice: "Saul, brother, I sent you the Lord Jesus who appeared to you on the road that runs through, because you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit" (9:17). The direction of travel does not change, Paul will come to Damascus, where he was already going. The reality, however, have different outlines in his eyes. Not more than a land full of enemies to "stop" (9:14), but a community of brothers who bring the message of salvation: "Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned" ( Mark 16:16).
For us, certainly called to experience less remarkable than that of the Apostle Paul lived, the conversion must be a continuous motion of salvation, through which the illusion of being right, gives way to the joy of being saved. Knowingly expose themselves to the risk of this reversal, so essential to be celebrated as a liturgical feast, is the only way to be "witnesses of truth 'and' always walk in the way of the Gospel" (cf. Collect). As his father used to say A. Louf: "Out of the conversion are far from the truth out of love and God."
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