The Conversion of Paul

 I belong to a group called Apostoliae Viae, the Apostles of the Way.  At the first reading this morning at mass, I heard the followers of Jesus being described as those following The Way.  That caught my attention.  Those of The Way were following Him, seeking to know who He really is, and to grow to be like Him.  That is what members of Apostoliae Viae do.  Apostoliae Viae is one of the ministries under the Avila Institute, which includes SpiritualDirection.com, which exists to help people discern God’s calling for them, to help them be who they were created to be.

This morning was the Feast Day of The Conversion of St. Paul, the Apostle (perhaps misnamed, since it is really the conversion of Saul).  Regardless, at mass the Monsignor spoke of the Virtue of Docility (which I didn’t even know WAS a virtue!)  He defined docility as the ability to receive, to become, to grow deeper with God’s grace.  He said docility was the capability to be taught (I guess that also means you aren’t so focused on YOUR WAY that you close your ears to any other).  This so much sounds like my recent reflections on what it means to be a disciple, to BECOME like the innermost being of the teacher.

Saul’s small crack of docility allowed God’s grace to heal him from who he had chosen to be.  The work of the virtue of docility is to learn, to receive, and then let that enable us to change.  Learn who we are, to let God’s grace work in us.  We can enter into God’s grace if we are docile, and we can change.  Look what happened to St. Paul when he changed.

And then I turned from the monsignor speaking and looked at the large crucifix hanging over the altar, and there on the wall behind it I read the words: I THIRST FOR YOU.

Those words mean more to me each day.  It’s why He wants us to change.

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Adam and Eve chose the apple, choosing not to be as God created them to be.  They didn’t trust Him anymore, and were sent out of Eden.  We’ve been trying to re-build that relationship ever since, and we’ve failed.  So, God sent His Son.

At mass this morning, after the elevation of the Body and Blood of Jesus, we sang a short hymn, ending with the words “for by Your cross and resurrection, You have set us free.”  And I thought of the Rescue Project now being run at a local parish.  Jesus rescued mankind from all its original sin deserved, if only we would choose once more to be like Him.

He has set us free, because He thirsts for us.