"Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples. He went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any there who belonged to the Way, whether men or women, he might take them as prisoners to Jerusalem. As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?”
“Who are you, Lord?” Saul asked."Acts of the Apostles
One of the most dramatic conversions to Christianity every told is the conversion of Saint Paul. In fact, it is considered of such importance that the Church has chosen January twenty-fifth as a day to celebrate this event. When it comes to spiritual experiences or miraculous events, the Church has always followed the policy of checking things out very carefully before officially accepting them as credible. In fact, at times, it seems that they are the last to come on side, but there is an important reason for this.
I remember years ago reading many of the books written by Fr. John Powell, a Jesuit from Chicago. In one of his books (I don't remember which one) he mentioned that miraculous conversions should be run through three tests: the time test, the charity test, and the commitment test.
The time test is quite easy to understand. Will the conversion to Christ stand the test of time or is it just a temporary phenomena? It cannot be a momentary insight that reverts back to the old way of thinking after a few days. It must create a permanent change in the person who experienced the conversion. Saint Paul would certainly pass this test as his radical conversion resulted in a life-time change and a life-time goal of bringing others to Christ.
The second, charity test, is probably a more important test, particularly as it relates to Saint Paul. Paul was always passionate in his approach to God. He always put everything he had into the pursuit of his goals, even as a Pharisee and persecutor of Christians; but he experienced a radical shift in his approach after his conversion. He shifted from using acts of violence and fear, to using love. He became Christ-like in his new approach. Before, he condoned putting people to death, as in the case of Steven, or to putting people in prison. After his conversion, he had a complete turnaround. Violence and fear were no longer acceptable behaviors and methods in pursuing God's will. "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called Children of God" became for him a way of life. Christians see clearly that love is the most powerful motivational force for change. It is in the commandment of love that we find the fulfillment of all the commandments of God.
For Saint Paul, this was surely a miraculous shift in thinking and behaving, a way that he never abandoned, even when facing those who opposed him.
The third test mentioned by Fr. John Powell was one of commitment or servant hood. It's almost as if a conversion to Christ ignites a fire within that keeps burning brighter and brighter encouraging us to continue in our response to Grace. It's not a case that we have decided to share the Gospel with others; we must share it. It becomes a part of who you are. And this is certainly true of Saint Paul whose fire is still burning in the hearts of many Christians today.
Most of us may never experience as dramatic a conversion as Saint Paul. Most of us will move into our Christian way of life without a radical or noticeable shift because we have grown into faith since our childhood. But Paul's conversion gives witness to God's power to change the heart of anyone, regardless of how far they may seem to have drifted off the Christian path. And that anyone can be the ones we least expect.
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