Today we celebrate the Feast of the Conversion of Paul. A zealot filled with hatred for the Church becomes a Zealot filled with love for Christ. God takes his pick and chooses the most hateful (Acts 9:1-2) to be a source of blessing.
We should often be surprised by God's choice; we should surprise others by allowing God to choose us each day anew to go forth.
Christ draws near and whispers our name and sends us forth to proclaim his fame. This fame is not of riches of the world, no high rises or lofty places but a fame that refuses to surrender to the worldly flare.
We are sent forth to drive out demons:
here we say no to all that resist goodness itself, refusing to be less while choosing to be more even in the face of adversity.
We are sent to speak new languages:
we are not called forth to buy the Rossetta Stone Language CDs and study but rather to let our body, whole and entire, speak eloquent volumes of love. Since the cross, love is always brand new for every generation.
We are sent to handle snakes:
not the reptiles that slither but the snakes of the world who with contempt try to deceive the world, who try to deceive our children, we are called to grab hold and shake them so that they cease doing harm.
We are sent to be unharmed by poison:
day in and day out we drink in the poison of the world, we are saturated in it and yet we are not overcome, we do not lose our strength but stand tall.
We are sent to lay hands and bring healing:
not a formal prayer service but any time our hands are used in a gesture of good will, service, and fidelity to God for the advance of peoples healing breaks forth into the world.
These are the signs that accompany the believers. Be a sign, no better yet be a believer and the signs shall come.
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