Conversion of St. Paul: A Vessel of Election

Start HERE.

Today’s Epistle comes from Acts 9. Saul was on his way to Damascus to round up and murder some deplorable Christians, as he was wont to do. Saul was a devout Pharisee, and he had a literal ‘license to kill’ from the high priests. He gets stopped in his tracks by a blinding light, and Truth Himself explains a thing or two. (Required reading, Paul recounts in the first person his murderous ways and subsequent conversion in Acts 22 and 26).

Having been carried to Damascus, and now blind for three days, Paul’s conversion is completed in a way I find interesting. St. Luke writes:

Now there was a certain disciple at Damascus, named Ananias. And the Lord said to him in a vision: “Ananias,” And he said: “Behold I am here, Lord.” And the Lord said to him: “Arise and go into the street that is called Strait and seek in the house of Judas, one named Saul of Tarsus. For behold he prayeth.” (And he saw a man named Ananias coming in and putting his hands upon him, that he might receive his sight.) But Ananias answered: “Lord, I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he hath done to thy saints in Jerusalem. And here he hath authority from the chief priests to bind all that invoke thy name.” And the Lord said to him: “Go thy way: for this man is to me a vessel of election, to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel. For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name’s sake.” And Ananias went his way and entered into the house. And laying his hands upon him, he said: Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus hath sent me, he that appeared to thee in the way as thou camest, that thou mayest receive thy sight and be filled with the Holy Ghost.” And immediately there fell from his eyes as it were scales: and he received his sight. And rising up, he was baptized. -Acts 9:10-18

Ananias was a devout Jew who had earlier converted. When our Lord calls him, he responds with perfect faith. But once given his task, what does he do? He rebukes our Lord. He relates Paul’s misdeeds, as if Jesus were not aware. How many times has the Lord asked something of us, and our response in incredulity?

“Go thy way: for this man is to me a vessel of election, to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel.”

What a revelation. Now Ananias knows he isn’t sent merely to restore sight to a murderer, but that this man was God’s vessel of election, and that the miracle would be the vector of a great conversion, such that Paul would carry the Holy Name of the one he once persecuted. We also see the earthly reward Paul should expect in return for his commission: “For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name’s sake.”

But what need did God have of Ananias? Jesus had struck Saul blind all by Himself. He could have just as easily cured him, with no need of human intervention. Well, this is just one more example of our Lord CHOOSING to act through men. What if Ananias, after Jesus explained the mission, had thrown up his arms and said, “Well I cannot possibly be expected to actually DO SOMETHING. Why should I have to be the one to do it? If Thou think this is so important, then go ahead and take care of it Thyself.”

Act, and God will act.

Saint Paul, pray for us.

Blessed feast, y’all!