Carmelite homily for Saturday, January 25, 2020 – Lectionary 142 – The Conversion of Saint Paul
Today’s Gospel, for the Conversion of Saint Paul, is the ending of Mark’s Gospel, where he’s talking about disciples. They will drive out demons, speak new languages, pick up serpents, drink deadly things, heal the sick. These are extraordinary feats. But you notice that it’s the end of the Gospel. I think our transformation in Christ is a lifetime call, a lifetime transformation, a lifetime journey. That’s the Conversion of Saint Paul: our own conversion. A couple of days ago I quoted Saint Therese and I’m going to use the same quote today. She writes, “He transformed me in such a way that I no longer recognized myself.” I think Saint Paul, at the end of his life, would look back and say, “that was me?” And I think that’s the same with us – we’re so transformed, it’s amazing.