Father's Reflection 4.30.23

Acts 8:1-8 NAB

Friends, consider the following phrase from the Acts of the Apostles.  Saul, meanwhile, was trying to destroy the Church; entering house after house and dragging out men and women, and handing them over for imprisonment (Acts 8:3 NAB).  That is right, the great St. Paul of Tarsus, evangelist extraordinaire, apostle, martyr, hero, saint…was once a poor sinner, bent on destroying the entire Church.  Not just one parish or apostle, or presbyter, or benefactor, or community, but the entire Church.  What a profound example of Divine Mercy in action, as it pertains to his life. 

Later in St. Paul’s life we hear: Three times I begged the Lord about this, that it might leave me, but He said to me, My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness (2 Cor. 12:8-9).  Now, just what this thorn in St. Paul’s side was, we do not know.  But perhaps it was his past?  Perhaps it was the murderous threats he had once breathed out?  The martyrdom of St. Steven that he once participated in?  The lives and families and homes he once destroyed as he threw families in prison?  Poor sinners, there is great news for us.  We who have also made mistakes and committed great sin have a witness for hope in St. Paul.  And the Lord is so good that He even has a way of bringing good out of evil.  Light out of darkness.  Praise be Jesus Christ.  Now and forever.