Feast of the
Conversion of Saint Paul
(Acts 22:3-16; Mark 16:15-18)
Fifty years ago with the declarations of Vatican II the
movement toward Church unity was gathering steam. Only a few theological issues seemed to stand
in the way. Now, however, the movement
is stymied with the ordaining of women and the blessing of homosexual unions by
some Christian communities. Reunification
seems as unlikely as reaching the end of a rainbow. Today’s Feast of the Conversion of St. Paul
ends a week in which many Christians have prayed for that vanishing goal.
St. Paul himself is a symbol of unity. His Letter to the Romans inspired Martin
Luther to fire the first salvo of the Reformation. For Catholics Paul represents the celibate
priest who gives of himself untiringly.
His conversion is also representative of the change of heart that Christians
of different persuasions must make. They
must let go of simplistic assertions causing division to seek deeper truths
effecting unity.
Let us not abandon the quest for Christian unity. We want to pray for it. Equally important, we need to collaborate
with separated sisters and brothers on its behalf. We should especially unite on social
projects. Very critically, we must not
let petty desires for prominence inhibit the movement. The credibility of the gospel depends in part
on our efforts.
