The Conversion of St Paul

Today's feast marks the end of our Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. God's grace changed and transformed St Paul from a persecutor of Christians to a herald of the Gospel. This simple fact teaches us that our faith has its roots and basis in grace and the free correspondence of each human being.

In today's reading we have an account of the Conversion of St Paul when God stepped into his life. There are occasions in our daily lives when Our Lord want to attract our attention and step into our lives and tell us of the great plan he has for us. 'I stand at the door and knock'; so many times we are deaf to this knock, other times we are caught up in our own world and think we know best, and other times we are too busy, too busy with the trivia of life.

God's grace can work miracles in our hearts but He depends on our willingness to correspond to grace; 'my grace is sufficient for you'.

Let us ask Our Lord to help us to open our hearts to His grace every day.

An Encounter with the Risen Christ

Christianity is not a moral code or a philosophy, but an encounter with a person, says Benedict XVI.

VATICAN CITY, SEPT. 3, 2008 (Zenit.org).

St Paul's conversion was not an intellectual one but rather a meeting with the Risen Lord which transformed him.

This has been very well expressed by the Holy Father in his message at the General Audience with pilgrims yesterday as reported by Zenit.

The Holy Father continued by saying that for us too Christianity is not a new philosophy but a meeting with Christ not necessarily in the 'luminous' way in which he showed himself to St Paul but through our encounter with Christ in the reading of Holy Scripture, in prayer and in the liturgical life of the Church.

"We can touch Christ's heart and feel him touch ours. Only in this personal relationship with Christ, only in this encounter with the Risen One do we really become Christians. And in this way, our reason opens, the whole of Christ's wisdom opens and all the richness of the truth. Therefore, let us pray to the Lord to enlighten us, so that, in our world, he will grant us the encounter with his presence, and thus give us a lively faith, an open heart, and great charity for all, capable of renewing the world."

A prayer book for the Year of St Paul

Colin Mason at Family Publications has very kindly sent me a review copy of a new book for the Year of St Paul. This little book is very readable and, as they say, 'accessible to all'. It contains beautiful illustrations and short extracts from the writings of St Paul followed by a short prayer or reflection.

It is an ideal companion for anyone who wishes to learn a little more about the life and thoughts of St Paul during this special Pauline Year and a useful aid to prayer and meditation on this theme.

Copies are available from Family Publications at £4.50. Discounts are available for parishes and schools for bulk purchases.