Daily Reflection Friday of the Third Week in Easter

We are presented with two highly significant readings this third Friday in Easter. First, we once again hear of the conversion of St. Paul in Acts 9 and next, the central passage of John 6, the great Eucharistic Chapter of John. Both demand comments.

Luke’s account of the conversion of Paul (or Saul as he was known then) is unique in the New Testament, for it is the only post resurrection conversion story we have. It is also quite dramatic, instantaneous (or so it seems) and highly consequential. There is Saul before it, and the completely different person of Paul afterwards. It is the origin of the saying, “A white light moment” to describe some conversions. Christian hagiography is filled with such stories in the attempt to make some saints on a par with Paul’s startling before and after existence. Yet many people can also claim a similar (if not as dramatic) experience of their own conversion, after which, everything also changed for them.

Paul was clearly chosen by God for God’s purposes, as the Spirit told Ananias, who hesitated to go to him. “You must go,” God tells him for Paul is God’s “chosen instrument” and, as Paul would continually claim ever after (“By the grace of God, I am what I am.” 1Cor 15:10), that is simply that. And that is the central truth in all of this. It is God who chooses us, we do not really choose God. And we are chosen not because we are worthy or have done anything to make ourselves worthy. We are given the gifts God gives us not as some sort of reward, and not for ourselves, but for others. Saul was certainly not worthy of what he was given. We are to, in the words Jesus spoke to the Gerasene demoniac, “Go and tell everyone what God has done for you in his mercy!” And another verse we should also hear clearly is God telling Ananias, “I myself will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name.” Yet, as Paul wondrously told the Corinthians in 2Cor 6, after having exhaustively itemized all those sufferings he did indeed have to endure, that finally, he understood himself “as having nothing, and yet possessing everything.” For the great mystery of true conversion is that afterwards, whatever we are asked to do or even endure for the sake of the Kingdom, we will do it filled with joy and willingness. We will, like Jesus, literally embrace it all.

As for today’s gospel passage, simply pray and reflect on Jesus’ words, “Unless you eat my flesh and drink my blood, you cannot have life within you.” To fully share in the eucharist is to become one with Christ and to become one with Christ means that we must, “walk just as He walked.” 1John 2:6