make my day
"Go into the whole world and proclaim the good news to all creation. The man who believes in it and accepts baptism will be saved; the man who refuses to believe it will be condemned." —Mark 16:15-16
Today the Church celebrates the feast of the conversion of St. Paul. Are you thrilled or at least happy to celebrate Paul's conversion or anyone's conversion? How much do you want all "to be saved and come to know the truth"? (1 Tm 2:4) Are you willing to become "the slave of all so as to win over as many as possible"? (1 Cor 9:19) Will you make yourself "all things to all men in order to save at least some of them"? (1 Cor 9:22)
Most people are more interested in who wins the Super Bowl than in who is converting to Christ. Most people desire to watch the news on TV more than hear the good news of the Bible. How many Catholics prefer to eat breakfast rather than to receive Holy Communion?
If you suffer tragedy after tragedy like Job did, do you still consider the sufferings of the present as nothing (see Rm 8:18) compared to the joy of seeing one sinner repent? (see Lk 15:7, 10) Or does one little problem outweigh in importance all the conversions in the world, even your own conversion? Paul's conversion, or anyone's conversion, is so important that we should rejoice in it forever — even in the midst of all kinds of sufferings.
What makes your day? Is it conversion or perversion?
Prayer: Father, convert me. Use me to convert many others.
Promise: "Immediately something like scales fell from his eyes and he regained his sight. He got up and was baptized." —Acts 9:18
Praise: St. Paul sent many Christians to prison and death (Acts 26:10). Jesus changed him from persecutor to evangelist. Praise You, Jesus! "He who was formerly persecuting us is now preaching the faith he tried to destroy" (Gal 1:23).
Rescript: †Most Reverend Joseph R. Binzer, Auxiliary Bishop, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, June 17, 2013
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