Pondering for Saturday, January 25, 2020

Eucharistic Readings for the Conversion of Saint Paul.                                                                                              

Psalm 67; Acts 26:9-21;Galatians 1:11-24; Acts 26:9-21;; Matthew 10:16-22

“And that is what I did in Jerusalem; with authority received from the chief priests, I not only locked up many of the saints in prison, but I also cast my vote against them when they were being condemned to death.”  (Acts 26:10)

At this writing our country is going through a trying time of impeachment testimony for and against the President of the United States and the seriousness of where elected leader’s loyalty lies. Many have received what they understand is their authority from their chief priest.  The opposing side feels that the majority of the other side are misguided and that they only hold a code they believe is more sacred to the sanctity of the American constitution. It’s a mess.

Like Paul, perhaps each and every one of us must ask where we think we will be on such issues five or ten years down the road.  Do we just want our team to win? No matter the costs. That’s sad.

Saul to Paul was a conversion.  Conversion is not a condemnation to hell.  It is a growth moment.  We don’t need tribes, or chief priests or even priests like me to demand fake loyalties for personal interests.  We only need our prayers and conscience awareness. We need to put ourselves in a place where we will be able to explain to our grandchildren exactly what we were thinking in our decisions and why, and be proud of it. We need to hear the Spirit of our loving God in Christ Jesus.

Let us hear what the Spirit is saying to and through the saints of God and then ponder anew what the Almighty can do.  John