When I decided [finally] to act on God’s prompting for me to become a Catholic little did I realise that I would [will] probably end up completing my conversion process during such a special year. June 29, 2008 to June 29, 2009 has been declared by Pope Benedict XVI to be the year of Saint Paul. I didn’t actually know this until Fr James handed me a little card at our first meeting which had obviously been printed in celebration of this special year. On one side is a lovely picture of St Paul and on the reverse are the words: –
“God our Father, you taught the gospel to all the world through the preaching of Paul, your apostle. May we who are under his patronage, follow him in bearing witness to your truth.”
I feel an afinity to St Paul as my conversion was quite dramatic, a real life ‘road to Damascus’ encounter with God. Like Paul [or Saul as he still was then] I also embraced that gift totally. I cannot claim to have the instant understanding of the scriptures that Paul exhibited: - “At once he began to preach in the synagogues that Jesus is the Son of God.” Acts 9:20 TNIV
Paul also wrote some of my favourite scripture and his words [from God] have really impacted my life and led me to a deeper understanding of God and Christianity – just as God intended. The book of Romans is undoubtedly my favourite book to date. Alot of the scripture that I’ve listed on the Chapter & Verse page will be found in Romans. Paul never missed an opportunity to spread the gospel and good news of Jesus. He turned every negative event in his difficult and selfless life into an opportunity to spread the wonderful message that Jesus was the Messiah and came to save us.
For all these reasons St Paul is my guide as he is for many other Christians today. His words and teachings live on through the bible and he was undoubtedly the greatest teacher of the Christian faith after Jesus himself. Paul just wanted to give to us what Christ had given to him, a path to forgiveness and salvation. Through him we are truly blessed!
To be continued at some point….
