The Feast of the Conversion of Saint Paul

We call this day the Feast of the Conversion of Saint Paul. Oddly, although there are words for conversion in the New Testament, Saint Paul never described his experience as a conversion. To him it was a revelation.

Catholics often call those who join our church in midlife, after belonging to various Protestant churches, “converts.” And sometimes they have converted – that is, radically turned their lives from wickedness to good – but more often they have heard a personal invitation to join our church. They do not reject their prior experience of being Christian, but bring it with them into the Catholic Church.

Saint Paul’s revelation had a profound impact on his theology. He heard, “I am Jesus the Nazorean whom you are persecuting.” Since he was not pursuing a crucified man but followers of the Christ, Paul realized that his attack on believers was, in fact, an attack on the “body” of Christ. “Why are you persecuting me?” meant “Why are you tormenting the faithful who are my body?”

In his letter to the Corinthians, especially, he would remind Christians that just as every part of the body belongs and is vital to its healthy functioning, every Christian has her and his role to play. When one part of the body is honored, all are honored; and when one is dishonored, the whole body suffers shame.

Belonging to Jesus has never been a matter of education, ideology, persuasion, or conviction. It’s not indoctrination; it’s incarnation. Carna meaning body. Through Baptism and Eucharist we are incarnated into his very existence, and deeply, intensely joined to one another.

Many Protestants join our Catholic Church bringing passion and zeal with them. They stimulate the lifers among us to greater appreciation of our Catholic traditions and faith. Often they’ve done their homework. They’ve drunk and become intoxicated with the doctrines that bored us to tears in catechism class. They instruct us, their elders, in our religion!

Thank God for these transfusions of Blood and infusions of Spirit into our ever ancient, ever new Body of Christ.