Saul, still breathing murderous threats against the disciples of the Lord,
went to the high priest and asked him
for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, that,
if he should find any men or women who belonged to the Way,
he might bring them back to Jerusalem in chains. (Acts 9:1-2)
We may have plans for ourselves. We may think that we are doing the right thing. We may even believe that we are doing precisely what God wants of us.
We may be wrong about it all.
That was the position that Saul found himself in. He was a faithful Jew. He was exemplary in living his faith. He was firmly convinced that the Christians were an aberration and a threat to Judaism. He wanted to remove their scourge from the world and he was quite devoted to his mission.
In all of it, he was convinced that he was doing God’s will
God, however, had another plan. He wanted Saul to know that what he was doing was wrong. God knew that Saul would not be persuaded unless something huge happened. So something huge did.
Saul was thrown from his horse on the way to Damascus. He was blinded by a light and he heard the voice of God asking Saul why Saul was persecuting Him. This was all too much for Saul. He believed that the followers of Christ were deluded and then he confronted Jesus on the road.
If anything, though, Saul was faithful. When God made it clear to him that he had gotten it wrong, Saul made every attempt possible to make things right. He because a great follower of Jesus Christ. His new name, to reflect the new person he had become, was and is known throughout the world as a devoted Apostle to the Gentiles. St. Paul would give all that he had, including his life, to promote the name of Jesus.
It is never too late to turn around.
FAITH ACTION: Pray for all of those who are not doing God’s will, that they may turn their lives around.