Conversion of St. Paul Apostle, January 25th

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Saul, who still threatened to death the disciples of the Lord, went to the High Priest and asked for letters to Damascus, to the synagogues, in order to bring prisoners to Jerusalem to all who were of this religion, men and women. Going by the road, already near Damascus, suddenly a light from the sky shone around; and fallen on the ground he heard a voice saying to him: "Saul, Saul, why art thou persecuting me?" He answered: "Who art thou, Lord?" He replied: "I am Jesus whom you are persecuting. But get up, go into the city, and you will be told what to do." The men who were traveling with him had stopped in astonishment, hearing, by the way, the voice, but not seeing anyone. Then, Saul rose from the earth, but when he opened his eyes he saw nothing. Therefore they took him by the hand and led him to Damascus. Three days he was deprived of sight, and he did not eat or drink. Some disciple was living in Damascus, by the name of Ananias, whom the Lord said in a vision: "Ananias!" And he replied: "Here you have me, Lord." The Lord then said: "Get up and go to the street called "The Straight". And he asks in the house of Judas for a man named Saul of Tarsus, because he is in prayer "; and (Saul) saw a man named Ananias, as he entered and imposed his hands on him so that he could recover his sight. To which Ananias replied: "Lord, I have heard of many concerning this man, how many evils he has done to your saints in Jerusalem. And here is with the powers of the chief priests to apprehend all who call on your name. "But the Lord replied:" Go, for this is a chosen instrument is for me, in order to carry my name before the nations and kings and children of Israel; for I will show him how much he will have to suffer for my name. "So, Ananias, went into the house and laid his hands on him, saying:" Saul, brother, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the way you came He has sent me so that you may recover your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit. "Instantly scales fell from his eyes and he recovered his sight; Then he got up and was baptized. Later he took food and it strengthened him.
He spent only a few days with the disciples who were in Damascus, when he began to preach in the synagogues about Jesus, as He is the Son of God. And all who heard him were astounded and said, "Isn't he the one who destroyed in Jerusalem those who call on this name, and here he came with the purpose of carrying them bound before the chief priests?" Saul, however, was strengthened every day more and confused the Jews who lived in Damascus, affirming that This is the Christ. Acts 9, 1-22

Saul, Jew of nationality, sectarian Pharisee, persecuted the new born Church; and commissioned by the Synagogue, he was on his way to Damascus to arrest as many Christians as he could find in that city. But Jesus stepped out, and knocked him down, and made him a jealous apostle in the year 35.

Prayer:
Oh God, Thou who taught the universe world by the preaching of the Apostle Saint Paul: we ask Thee to grant us that as we honor his Conversion today, by his examples we will reach Thee. Through Our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, who lives and reigns with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost and is God, for ever and ever. Amen.

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