杏MAP导航

By Devin Watkins

In the Acts of the Apostles, Saul was a religious ideologue who persecuted Jesus鈥� early followers.

That same sinful man became Paul after his dramatic conversion to Christianity, offering us an example of the power of God鈥檚 love for each of us.

杏MAP导航 Francis reflected on that model of life-changing love in his catechesis at the Wednesday General Audience, and he compared St Paul鈥檚 unconverted actions to those of modern dictatorships.

Dictatorial persecution

He said Saul hunted and captured early Christians, under the authority of the High Priest.

鈥淵ou who come from those peoples who were persecuted by dictatorships,鈥� said the 杏MAP导航, 鈥測ou understand well what it means to hunt and capture people. This is what Saul did.鈥�

杏MAP导航 Francis added that religion, for Saul, had become a religious, social, and political ideology.

Saul鈥檚 anger and conflictual attitude, he said, are an invitation to ask ourselves whether we meet other people or set ourselves up against others.

鈥淒o I belong to the universal Church 鈥� with the good and the bad, all of us 鈥� or do I hold a selective ideology? Do I adore God or a dogmatic formulation?鈥� he asked.

Conversion to Christ

God, said 杏MAP导航 Francis, converted Saul by touching his heart. He was blinded by a light along the road to Damascus, and Saul heard a voice asking him why he was persecuting Jesus.

鈥淎n attack against a member of the Church is an attack against Christ himself! And those who are ideologues because they desire the so-called 鈥減urity鈥� of the Church are attacking Christ.鈥�

After his conversion, Paul鈥檚 life is transformed, and what he previously considered his 鈥済lory鈥� became 鈥渄ross鈥� to be discarded in Christ鈥檚 name.

Baptized into new life

杏MAP导航 Francis said Paul then accepts Baptism, transforming the course of his life.

鈥淏aptism marks 鈥� as it does for all of us 鈥� the beginning of a new life, which is accompanied by a new view of God, ourselves, and others, who are turned from enemies into brothers and sisters in Christ.鈥�