Feast of the Conversion of St. Paul, apostle

Today's Mass Readings

Preface: This week, I reflect on the Responsorial Psalm, “which is an integral part of the Liturgy of the Word and holds great liturgical and pastoral importance, because it fosters meditation on the word of God.” (General Instruction of the Roman Missal, 61)

Go out to all the world, and tell the Good News.
From Mark 16:15, with verses from Psalm 117

To evangelize is the primary mission of the Church. On this day of celebrating Saul’s conversion to Paul, our response is to say the words of Jesus, “Go out to all the world, and tell the Good News.”

This is a unique Responsorial Psalm. The refrain is from Mark’s Gospel, and the verses are from the shortest psalm in the Bible, Psalm 117:

O praise the LORD, all you nations;
Acclaim him, all you peoples!
For his mercy has prevailed over us;
And the faithfulness of the LORD endures forever.
Alleluia!
(Abbey Psalms and Canticles, 2019)

Psalm 117 is the shortest but makes the most dramatic claim, considering its historical context. It was written by the Chosen People, whose God is the LORD, but addressed to all other Peoples, who followed after other gods. They are to praise and acclaim the LORD, because of his mercy and faithfulness. For Christians today, the LORD is the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

How can we go out to all the world today and tell the Good News? How, during a pandemic? The early apostles would never have dreamed of the internet. What an awesome vehicle for evangelization! No danger of travel. Just post, watch it go, and hope people listen.

Well, reality sets in. Not all posts are seen. Not all words are read. They may not even “Like it.” There’s something missing with online evangelism. It’s the personal, face-to-face interaction of an ongoing relationship. Sure, you can have an online chat with your friend, but it’s not the same as those flesh-and-blood encounters. I think the newly converted Paul would agree.

But I think the Apostle would say, “What difference does it make, as long as in every way…Christ is being proclaimed?” (Phil 1:18) So, feel free to proclaim Christ through online media, videos, posts, and personal testimonies. But let us not neglect to proclaim Christ by the way we live and also in those personal, face-to-face conversations we have with the people we love.

Reflection by Br. Luke Kral, OSB