Saint Paul – lectiodiv.com

“Go into the whole world and proclaim the Gospel.” | Feast of the Conversion of Saint Paul, Apostle

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From the Gospel acclamation:

“For steadfast is his kindness toward us, and the fidelity of the LORD endures forever.”

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Mark (Mark 16:15-18)

As Jesus speaks to the apostles, he describes the signs that will accompany them. Those who have been baptized and believe, he tells them, will be able to accomplish supernatural works through the Holy Spirit. Called by the same Lord and sent out to proclaim the Gospel is Paul, who describes himself as one to whom the risen Christ appeared last of all; in Paul’s words, “as to one born abnormally, he appeared to me.” The story of the apostles and the story of Paul teach us something about the call to discipleship. Among those who are baptized, the call will come early or the call will come late. Like Paul, with our many gifts, we are a “chosen instrument,” responding to the voice of Jesus who calls us to “get up and go” by proclaiming the Gospel.

God, help me throughout the day to consider the conversion of Saint Paul. He was literally knocked off his high horse, blinded by your light, and brought to wholeness through fasting and with the help of others. How familiar is the armor of self-preservation that keeps me moment by moment from receiving your grace. Yet, Jesus calls the apostles and Paul and all who hear his voice to put on the armor or Christ for a purpose the Gospel acclamation states perfectly: “I chose you from the world, to go and bear fruit that will last, says the Lord.” Jesus chose the apostles from the world, from out of the world, and he chose Paul as “a chosen instrument of mine.” Saint Paul, pray for us!

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

“In my name they will drive out demons.” | Feast of the Conversion of Saint Paul, Apostle

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A reading from the holy Gospel according to Mark (Mk 16:15-18)

Jesus appeared to the Eleven and said to them: “Go into the whole world and proclaim the Gospel to every creature. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved; whoever does not believe will be condemned. These signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will drive out demons, they will speak new languages. They will pick up serpents with their hands, and if they drink any deadly thing, it will not harm them. They will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.”

Jesus defines exactly how those who are baptized behave and what they are capable of doing. He refers not to others, the great saints or those who lived during his time; instead, the invitation to hear and accept the Gospel is meant for “every creature.” Those who believe and are baptized will be saved; those who do not will be condemned. The signs of those who believe, Jesus says, point to him and his mission of salvation: to preach the Gospel and to heal the sick. Among those who believe, though, every day does not consist of driving out demons, speaking new languages, picking up serpents, and drinking poison. Yet, as members of the Body of Christ, Jesus does not call us to be accompanied by watered down signs. Not only does he call us to goodness, he calls us to holiness; rather than providing palliative care, he calls us to heal the ill at its source. And all of this, as with other miraculous works, is possible because the power isn’t ours—it is in the name of Jesus.

God, you transformed the life of Saul with the words of Jesus and the power of the Holy Spirit: “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” The disciple Ananias heard your voice and knew immediately how to respond, saying “Here I am, Lord.” Through the conversion of Paul, innumerable believers throughout the ages have been baptized, brought into the arms of the “one, holy, catholic, and apostolic Church.” Help me today see in the conversion of Saint Paul not merely a Bible story I have heard countless times but a supreme account of the divine power and authority in which Jesus calls me to believe. Paul is among the first to hear Jesus and respond to him: “Go into the whole world and proclaim the Gospel to every creature.”

From the Gospel acclamation: “I chose you from the world, to go and bear fruit that will last, says the Lord.” Saint Paul, pray for us!

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

Fourth Sunday of Lent

“Live as children of light,” Saint Paul says, “for light produces every kind of goodness and righteousness and truth.”

A reading from the holy Gospel according to John

“If you were blind, you would have no sin; but now you are saying, ‘We see,’ so your sin remains.

In this Sunday’s Gospel, worth reading and rereading because of its richness and majesty, Jesus heals a man who was born blind. John’s account of the story begins with Jesus and his disciples encountering the blind man, and the disciples asking whether the man’s blindness was caused by his own sin or that of his parents. Jesus responds that neither the man nor his parents sinned, but rather the man was born blind so that “the works of God might be made visible through him.” Jesus heals the man by spitting on the ground, making mud with the saliva, and spreading the mud over the man’s eyes. Jesus then instructs the man to wash his eyes in the pool of Siloam. The healing causes controversy among the Pharisees, who question the man and his parents about the healing. They are skeptical of the healing and accuse Jesus of being a sinner because he healed on the Sabbath, and they throw the man out of the synagogue. When Jesus hears about this, he approaches the man and Jesus asks if he believes that he is the Son of Man. The man says to Jesus, “I do believe, Lord,” and he worships him. Jesus tells him: “I came into this world for judgment, so that those who do not see might see, and those who do see might become blind.” In this Gospel passage, the man’s physical blindness is lifted, allowing him to see the world around him. Greater yet, he gains spiritual insight into the truth of Jesus’ power and divinity and worships him. Compare this to the Pharisees who reject Jesus and his healing power remain in spiritual darkness, unable to see the truth of who Jesus is.

God, help me distinguish between blindness and sight. Keep me in your light, visible to you, and bring me to life through you. As Saint Paul says, “Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will give you light.” When the man’s physical blindness is lifted, he comes to believe in you. Bring into the light the things that lie in darkness and lead to death so that I can reject them. From the Gospel acclamation: “I am the light of the world, says the Lord; whoever follows me will have the light of life.”

Lord, I want to live in the light of your truth. “Live as children of light,” Saint Paul says, “for light produces every kind of goodness and righteousness and truth.” Keep me in your light, Lord!

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

https://youtu.be/2W-KSOPWWBY

Readings

Feast of the Conversion of Saint Paul, Apostle

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Mark

In today’s Gospel reading, Mark describes Jesus’ appearance to the Eleven after his resurrection. In the last chapter of Mark’s Gospel, Jesus commissions the Apostles to proclaim the Gospel throughout the world. Certain signs will accompany those who believe, including learning new languages, driving out demons, and handling serpents. Taking place immediately after the resurrection, the commissioning by Jesus hints at the coming of the Holy Spirit and some of the supernatural gifts that result from the Third Person of the Trinity.

God, help me see the particular gifts of the Holy Spirit working in me today. I can’t pretend to understand this, but I ask for understanding only insofar as my understanding brings me closer to you. After Paul’s conversion, unable to see, he was led to Damascus by the help of his companions. There, a devout Jew named Ananias restored his eyesight, saying, “Saul, my brother, the Lord has sent me, Jesus who appeared to you on the way by which you came, that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” As Paul tells the story, his sight was restored as soon as Ananias said, “Saul, my brother, regain your sight.” Help me, Lord, be open to the friendship of others who bring me close to you through the work of the Holy Spirit.

Thank you, God, for the light of your presence! Pray for us, blessed Apostle Paul!

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

https://youtu.be/2W-KSOPWWBY

Readings