A call, a Vocation ¡A commitment!

Peace and GoodA call ...A Vocation ...A commitment ...Today we are celebrating with joy the Feast of the Conversion of St. Paul the Apostle to the Gentiles by the grace of God. It's a celebration to be getting ready. Words, it should lead us to discover the wonderful work God is doing in a heart to love and serve Him without limits. Therefore, we are not satisfied with knowing, talking, telling the glory of the saints, how to imitate so as to leave them free rein to the Spirit of God to go to make each one of us instruments of peace and love.Saul and Saul (10-67), later known as Paul, was born in Tarsus (Asia Minor) Hebrew family. Roman citizen by birth in a free city. He was educated in his youth by the sage Rabbi Gamaliel in the Pharisaic doctrines. Bitter enemy of the nascent Church and involved in the death of Stephen, the first Christian martyr, his life abruptly changed by his encounter on the road to Damascus with the Risen Lord. Jesus said the truth of the Christian faith and told him about his special mission as an apostle of the Gentiles (cf. Acts 9).We are around the year 36 and is from this moment, when Paul dedicated his life to serving Christ. He spent three years in the Arabian desert, then back to Damascus, goes up to Jerusalem about the year 39, to retire later to Syria-Cilicia. Begins his preaching at Antioch, to immediately undertake his first apostolic journey, we are more or less between 45-49, announced the good news of Cyprus, Pamphylia, Pisidia and Lycaonia.In 49 participates and the apostolic council of Jerusalem, which is recognized his great mission as an apostle of the Gentiles. Around 50-52 years continues his second missionary journey and between the third 53-54.The year 58 is arrested in Jerusalem and kept in prison in Caesarea of ​​Palestine until the year 60. In the autumn of this year, the governor Festus sent under escort to Rome, where Paul remained two years (61-63). Conducted the process is free. It is likely that this situation has led to Spain, as argued (Rom 15:24), and other regions of the East.Finally, about AD 67 is taken prisoner again in Rome where it meets the palm of martyrdom.The importance of the "Apostle of the Gentiles", Paul of Tarsus, the Christian conscience was to focus on the three accounts of his conversion that appear in the Acts of the Apostles (Acts 9.1 to 30, 22.3 to 21; 26.9 to 30).So, today celebrated the Liturgy persecutor who became the "chosen instrument" and "propagator of your glory." "The former persecutor is now preaching the faith he once tried to destroy" (Gal 1.14). The conversion experience of Paul explains his life and activity. "For me life is Christ and to die is gain" (Phil 1.21). "I live by faith in the Son of God" (Gal 2.20). "I know whom I have believed" (2 Tim 1.2). It also explains why he made of his life "every church service" and why "preach the gospel for Paul was not pride but a duty" (1 Cor 9.16).Celebrate the Feast of the Apostle of the Gentiles is to recognize the immense work of God "desires all men to be saved and come to know the truth. Because God is unique, as is also the only mediator between God and men: a man, Jesus Christ, who gave himself to redeem all "(1 Tim 2:4-6). This desire becomes concrete in the context of prayer for Christian unity, we conclude today.Then seeing ourselves and thanking the Father of mercies and God of all comfort we rejoice in the example so big and deep that gives us through St. Paul, and also ask us to be able to let us meet him and make the project of the Kingdom of God, a project committed to our lives.Peace and GoodPaul Fray Capuchin missionary.