Jan

Feast of the Conversion of St. Paul

angfrayle on January 17th, 2009

¹⁴ How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? ¹⁵ And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!” (Romans 10:14-15)

This citation from St. Paul brings together some related themes in the choices for the liturgical celebration of the feast of Paul’s conversion. The mandate given by the Risen Lord to the apostles are carried out in the work of proclaiming the Gospel of which Paul too was a recipient. He who met the Resurrected Lord on the way to Damascus had to be evangelized too and baptized before he could become the apostle to the Gentiles.

Relevant Links

The Mandate to the Apostles In Mark
Feast of the Conversion of Paul: The Word of God and Conversion

Guide for Reading

The text of Mark 16:15-18 is best understood within its immediate context which is formed by Mark 16:9-20. Notice that this latter has an outline that those who have read Matthew and Luke’s resurrection narratives are familiar with:

appearance to Mary Magdalene (16:9-11)
- Matthew 28:9-10
- Luke 24:10-11
- John 20:14-18
appearance to two travelling disciples (16:12-13)
- Luke 24:13-35
appearance to the Eleven (16:14-18)
- Luke 24:36-43
- John 20:19-23.26-29
- Matthew 28:16-20
the ascension (16:19-20)
- Luke 24:50-51
- Acts 1:9-11

Notice also the narrative is compressed and that the image of the disciples is not idealized. This latter is characteristic of Mark who portrays the disciples as slow to believe and have hard hearts. See the following

Mark 6:52
Mark 8:14-21
Mark 8:33
Mark 9:19

One should also note that the “signs” Jesus mentions as accompanying the work of evangelization, except for one, are all taken from episodes in the Acts of the Apostles. (See the article here for a list of the relevant passages. )

Comparing the Readings

The selection from Mark 16:15-18 has no direct relationship with the first reading from Acts 22:3-16 which contains a first person narrative of Paul’s conversion experience. The liturgy invites us to see in the words of the resurrected Christ a mandate that also extends to the work of Paul, “the least of the apostles.” Acts 22:3-16 depicts Paul bearing testimony to the apostolic faith that he once persecuted but now promotes. Paul had his experience of the Risen Christ, but it was not until Ananias preached the gospel to him and baptized him that the experience was completed and became for him the motive for his work as apostle to the Gentiles. The exhortation in 1 Corinthians forms part of a larger exhortation to live in view of the coming of the Lord.

Suggestions for the Lessons

In the Philippines, the third Sunday of Ordinary Time (Year B, 2009) celebrates two events: (a) the Feast of the Conversion of St. Paul, and (b) National Bible Week. It would be proper to recall the importance of the Conversion of Paul to the history of the Church. It should be understood however that the conversion experience of Paul did not end on the way to Damascus: it was brought to its completion with the help of Ananias who proclaimed the gospel to him and baptized him. The presentation in Acts of this latter is very schematic. Paul would have undergone a period of catechesis that is longer than the way Luke describes it. After the baptism, Paul himself tells us in Galatians that he undertook a retreat in the desert and he also went to Jerusalem to meet with the pillars of the Church, James, John and Peter. In other words, the conversion of Paul was brought about by an experience of the Word in the person of the Resurrected Christ and in apostolic preaching. It was this series of encounters that allowed him to read the Scriptures in the light of the Risen Lord.

How do we encounter the Word of God today in a personal way as Paul did? The recent Synod of Bishops in Rome point to the reality of the Word of God in Revelation, in Christ, heard in the Church and proclaimed by the Church “to the whole of creation.” See the Synod’s Message http://biblista.net/html/SynodMessage.2008.html here. See also the http://biblista.net/main/sunday3_2009 Sunday Thoughts for the Conversion of St. Paul.

Romans 10:14-15
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14How then shall they call on him, in whom they have not believed? Or how shall they believe him, of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear, without a preacher?

15And how shall they preach unless they be sent, as it is written: How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, of them that bring glad tidings of good things!

Mark 16:15-18
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15And he said to them: Go ye into the whole world, and preach the gospel to every creature.

16He that believeth and is baptized, shall be saved: but he that believeth not shall be condemned.

17And these signs shall follow them that believe: In my name they shall cast out devils: they shall speak with new tongues.

18They shall take up serpents; and if they shall drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them: they shall lay their hands upon the sick, and they shall recover.

Mark 16:9-20
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9But he rising early the first day of the week, appeared first to Mary Magdalen, out of whom he had cast seven devils.

10She went and told them that had been with him, who were mourning and weeping.

11And they hearing that he was alive, and had been seen by her, did not believe.

12And after that he appeared in another shape to two of them walking, as they were going into the country.

13And they going told it to the rest: neither did they believe them.

14At length he appeared to the eleven as they were at table: and he upbraided them with their incredulity and hardness of heart, because they did not believe them who had seen him after he was risen again.

15And he said to them: Go ye into the whole world, and preach the gospel to every creature.

16He that believeth and is baptized, shall be saved: but he that believeth not shall be condemned.

17And these signs shall follow them that believe: In my name they shall cast out devils: they shall speak with new tongues.

18They shall take up serpents; and if they shall drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them: they shall lay their hands upon the sick, and they shall recover.

19And the Lord Jesus, after he had spoken to them, was taken up into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of God.

20But they going forth preached every where: the Lord working withal, and confirming the word with signs that followed.

Matthew 28:9-10
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9And behold Jesus met them, saying: All hail. But they came up and took hold of his feet, and adored him.

10Then Jesus said to them: Fear not. Go, tell my brethren that they go into Galilee, there they shall see me.

Luke 24:10-11
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10And it was Mary Magdalen, and Joanna, and Mary of James, and the other women that were with them, who told these things to the apostles.

11And these words seemed to them as idle tales; and they did not believe them.

John 20:14-18
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14When she had thus said, she turned herself back, and saw Jesus standing; and she knew not that it was Jesus.

15Jesus saith to her: Woman, why weepest thou? whom seekest thou? She, thinking it was the gardener, saith to him: Sir, if thou hast taken him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take him away.

16Jesus saith to her: Mary. She turning, saith to him: Rabboni (which is to say, Master).

17Jesus saith to her: Do not touch me, for I am not yet ascended to my Father. But go to my brethren, and say to them: I ascend to my Father and to your Father, to my God and your God.

18Mary Magdalen cometh, and telleth the disciples: I have seen the Lord, and these things he said to me.

Luke 24:13-35
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13And behold, two of them went, the same day, to a town which was sixty furlongs from Jerusalem, named Emmaus.

14And they talked together of all these things which had happened.

15And it came to pass, that while they talked and reasoned with themselves, Jesus himself also drawing near, went with them.

16But their eyes were held, that they should not know him.

17And he said to them: What are these discourses that you hold one with another as you walk, and are sad?

18And the one of them, whose name was Cleophas, answering, said to him: Art thou only a stranger to Jerusalem, and hast not known the things that have been done there in these days?

19To whom he said: What things? And they said: Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, who was a prophet, mighty in work and word before God and all the people;

20And how our chief priests and princes delivered him to be condemned to death, and crucified him.

21But we hoped, that it was he that should have redeemed Israel: and now besides all this, today is the third day since these things were done.

22Yea and certain women also of our company affrighted us, who before it was light, were at the sepulchre,

23And not finding his body, came, saying, that they had also seen a vision of angels, who say that he is alive.

24And some of our people went to the sepulchre, and found it so as the women had said, but him they found not.

25Then he said to them: O foolish, and slow of heart to believe in all things which the prophets have spoken.

26Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and so to enter into his glory?

27And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded to them in all the scriptures, the things that were concerning him.

28And they drew night to the town, whither they were going: and he made as though he would go farther.

29But they constrained him; saying: Stay with us, because it is towards evening, and the day is now far spent. And he went in with them.

30And it came to pass, whilst he was at table with them, he took bread, and blessed, and brake, and gave to them.

31And their eyes were opened, and they knew him: and he vanished out of their sight.

32And they said one to the other: Was not our heart burning within us, whilst he spoke in this way, and opened to us the scriptures?

33And rising up, the same hour, they went back to Jerusalem: and they found the eleven gathered together, and those that were staying with them,

34Saying: The Lord is risen indeed, and hath appeared to Simon.

35And they told what things were done in the way; and how they knew him in the breaking of the bread.

Luke 24:36-43
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36Now whilst they were speaking these things, Jesus stood in the midst of them, and saith to them: Peace be to you; it is I, fear not.

37But they being troubled and frightened, supposed that they saw a spirit.

38And he said to them: Why are you troubled, and why do thoughts arise in your hearts?

39See my hands and feet, that it is I myself; handle, and see: for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as you see me to have.

40And when he had said this, he shewed them his hands and feet.

41But while they yet believed not, and wondered for joy, he said: Have you any thing to eat?

42And they offered him a piece of a broiled fish, and a honeycomb.

43And when he had eaten before them, taking the remains, he gave to them.

John 20:19-23
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19Now when it was late that same day, the first of the week, and the doors were shut, where the disciples were gathered together, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in the midst, and said to them: Peace be to you.

20And when he had said this, he shewed them his hands and his side. The disciples therefore were glad, when they saw the Lord.

21He said therefore to them again: Peace be to you. As the Father hath sent me, I also send you.

22When he had said this, he breathed on them; and he said to them: Receive ye the Holy Ghost.

23Whose sins you shall forgive, they are forgiven them; and whose sins you shall retain, they are retained.

Matthew 28:16-20
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16And the eleven disciples went into Galilee, unto the mountain where Jesus had appointed them.

17And seeing them they adored: but some doubted.

18And Jesus coming, spoke to them, saying: All power is given to me in heaven and in earth.

19Going therefore, teach ye all nations; baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.

20Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and behold I am with you all days, even to the consummation of the world.

Luke 24:50-51
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50And he led them out as far as Bethania: and lifting up his hands, he blessed them.

51And it came to pass, whilst he blessed them, he departed from them, and was carried up to heaven.

Acts 1:9-11
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9And when he had said these things, while they looked on, he was raised up: and a cloud received him out of their sight.

10And while they were beholding him going up to heaven, behold two men stood by them in white garments.

11Who also said: Ye men of Galilee, why stand you looking up to heaven? This Jesus who is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come, as you have seen him going into heaven.

Mark 6:52
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52For they understood not concerning the loaves; for their heart was blinded.

Mark 8:14-21
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14And they forgot to take bread; and they had but one loaf with them in the ship.

15And he charged them, saying: Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, and of the leaven of Herod.

16And they reasoned among themselves, saying: Because we have no bread.

17Which Jesus knowing, saith to them: Why do you reason, because you have no bread? do you not yet know nor understand? have you still your heart blinded?

18Having eyes, see you not? and having ears, hear you not? neither do you remember.

19When I broke the five loaves among five thousand, how many baskets full of fragments took you up? They say to him, Twelve.

20When also the seven loaves among four thousand, how many baskets of fragments took you up? And they say to him, Seven.

21And he said to them: How do you not yet understand?

Mark 8:33
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33Who turning about and seeing his disciples, threatened Peter, saying: Go behind me, Satan, because thou savorest not the things that are of God, but that are of men.

Mark 9:19
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19And they brought him. And when he had seen him, immediately the spirit troubled him; and being thrown down upon the ground, he rolled about foaming.

Mark 16:15-18
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15And he said to them: Go ye into the whole world, and preach the gospel to every creature.

16He that believeth and is baptized, shall be saved: but he that believeth not shall be condemned.

17And these signs shall follow them that believe: In my name they shall cast out devils: they shall speak with new tongues.

18They shall take up serpents; and if they shall drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them: they shall lay their hands upon the sick, and they shall recover.

Acts 22:3-16
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3And he saith: I am a Jew, born at Tarsus in Cilicia, but brought up in this city, at the feet of Gamaliel, taught according to the truth of the law of the fathers, zealous for the law, as also all you are this day:

4Who persecuted this way unto death, binding and delivering into prisons both men and women.

5As the high priest doth bear me witness, and all the ancients: from whom also receiving letters to the brethren, I went to Damascus, that I might bring them bound from thence to Jerusalem to be punished.

6And it came to pass, as I was going, and drawing nigh to Damascus at midday, that suddenly from heaven there shone round about me a great light:

7And falling on the ground, I heard a voice saying to me: Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?

8And I answered: Who art thou, Lord? And he said to me: I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom thou persecutest.

9And they that were with me, saw indeed the light, but they heard not the voice of him that spoke with me.

10And I said: What shall I do, Lord? And the Lord said to me: Arise, and go to Damascus; and there it shall be told thee of all things that thou must do.

11And whereas I did not see for the brightness of that light, being led by the hand by my companions, I came to Damascus.

12And one Ananias, a man according to the law, having testimony of all the Jews who dwelt there,

13Coming to me, and standing by me, said to me: Brother Saul, look up. And I the same hour looked upon him.

14But he said: The God of our fathers hath preordained thee that thou shouldst know his will, and see the Just One, and shouldst hear the voice from his mouth.

15For thou shalt be his witness to all men, of those things which thou hast seen and heard.

16And now why tarriest thou? Rise up, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, invoking his name.