The Year of St. Paul

Saul, Saul why are you persecuting me?”“Who are you Lord?” he asked, and the voice answered “I am Jesus and you are persecuting me” (Acts 9:4)

These words spoken to Saul on the Road to Damascus have echoed down the years to us today. They teach us what the power of Jesus can do. In Saul’s case, it was a change from being a violent persecutor of the “followers of the Way” to someone whose love for Jesus enabled him to give all “endure all” to bring the “Good News” before ”pagans and pagan kings and the people of Israel.”(Acts 9:15)

The year 2008 -2009 was declared by Pope Benedict as the “Year of Saint Paul.” We do well to take time to read and ponder the message of Paul. He follows the teaching of Jesus when in the letter to the Philippians he tells us that care and concern for each other will help us to “Recognise what is best.”