The Epiphany of the Lord

LORD OF ALL

Saint Paul was born and brought up as a Jew, deeply aware of the Jewish people as the Chosen Race. Thanks to his education by rabbis, Paul was steeped in the Hebrew scriptures, which emphasized God’s particular love for Jews. Paul expected a Jewish Messiah for the Jews, and may well have believed such a one would be a great military or royal leader like King David. Jesus did not fit that profile.

Paul was ardent in his conviction that all those who believed Jesus was the promised Savior were deluded and dangerous, and he was willing to hunt them down and kill them off. After his vision of Jesus on the road to Damascus, Paul’s change of heart and mind was profound. All his preconceptions were wrong. He was wrong about Jesus and wrong about Jesus’ followers. He was wrong about the Messiah being only for the Jews. Paul was a remarkable man who was prepared to admit that he was wrong! He knew that he had been given an insight into the mystery of God’s grace, hidden until the world was ready.

God’s love and grace are universal and no human being is beyond that love; only those who choose not to receive it cannot benefit from God’s grace. He was certain that those who were not Jews were also called to be part of the body of Christ. This was an astounding idea and, at first, brought conflict with apostles such as Peter. Yet these convictions took Paul and his companions out into the world around the Mediterranean on long and dangerous journeys. Jesus was born a Jew in Bethlehem yet, as Risen Lord, he is Lord of all nations and peoples. Paul knew this. It changed his mind. It changed his heart. It changed the world.

Weekly reflections are provided by our bulletin publisher, J. S. Paluch, Inc.