Friday of the Third Week of Easter
Today’s reading from the Acts of the Apostles recalls two of the most famous conversion stories ever.
Although Saul was born in Tarsus, he was raised in the city of Jerusalem. He was an intelligent and ambitious young man, trained in the Jewish faith under the famous Gamaliel. No doubt he was aware of Jesus and had witnessed the effect that his teaching and miracles had on people. It is not surprising then that as a Jew and a Roman citizen, Saul believed that the disciples of the Lord were disruptive and should be eliminated.
Ananias and the other Christian disciples in Damascus only saw the evil Saul was doing to them. They feared him. They did not yet know that Saul was knocked off his horse (literally and figuratively) by Jesus. That event, along with blindness, forced him to prayerfully reconsider his life and what he was doing. Ananias also had to reconsider his opinion of Saul when the Lord made clear His plans for him.
Both Saul and Ananias were humbled by the Lord. Both had to change their judgments about the other. Both had to have consummate faith.
Reflection by Br. Jacob Kubajak, OSB
Posted in Article for Easter, Daily Reflections