Feast of The Conversion of St Paul the Apostle : Monday 25th January 2021

Today, the Church celebrates the Feast of the Conversion of St. Paul. Paul’s conversion has great significance because it signals the advent of the proclamation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the gentiles and the spread of Christianity. Paul was specially chosen for this task and remained faithful to it to the end of his life.

As in the words of Ananias to Paul, “The God of our ancestors has chosen you to know his will, to see the Just One and to hear his own voice speaking, because you are to be his witness before all mankind, testifying to what you have seen and heard.” (Acts 22:14-15).

Because of Paul and other missionaries who carried out the mandate of Jesus: “Go out to the whole world; proclaim the Good News to all creation”, the Christian faith if now found in almost every part of the world. However, the history of Christianity is filled with periods of great and extraordinary sacrifices and achievements but also of conflict and division. Amidst these challenges, the Christian Church has unfailingly continued the mission received from Christ.

Today, the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity with the theme: “Abide in my love, and you shall bear much fruit” (cf. Jn 15, 5-9) comes to its conclusion. Nevertheless, let us respond to the invitation of Jesus that regardless our ‘differences’, we “may be one” and pray for greater unity among Christians, so that, as believers of Jesus, we will bear ‘fruit’ that is pleasing to him and that glorifies him to all humanity.

Lord, help us bear fruit in our lives.