Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, today we celebrate the feast of the Conversion of St. Paul. Through the readings from Acts 22:3-16 and Mark 16:15-18, we are reminded of the transformative power of God's grace and the call to proclaim the Good News to all nations.
In Acts, we hear of Paul's dramatic conversion on the road to Damascus, where he is struck blind by a bright light and hears the voice of Jesus asking him, "Why do you persecute me?" This encounter with the Risen Lord changes Paul's entire perspective and leads him to become a passionate apostle, spreading the message of salvation to the Gentiles.
In Mark, Jesus commissions his disciples to "go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation." This call to evangelize is not just for the original disciples, but for all of us who have been baptized into Christ. We are called to be bold and courageous in sharing the love of God with those around us.
Just as Paul was transformed by his encounter with Jesus, we too can be transformed by the power of the Holy Spirit. We can let go of our own prejudices and biases and open ourselves to the loving guidance of God. We can be messengers of hope and peace to a world in need of the Good News.
Let us remember the words of Paul: "I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes" (Romans 1:16). May we also be unashamed in our witness to the love of God in Jesus Christ, and may we be open to the ways in which God may call us to proclaim the Good News in our own lives. Amen."