PASTOR’S CORNER, Rev. Jason Toombs, Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church, Liberal
The church celebrates the Conversion of St. Paul on the 25th of January. Paul, originally Saul, was a persecutor of the Church which is founded upon Jesus. He was well versed in the Jewish understanding of God. He says, in his letter to the Philippians, “If anyone else thinks he has reason for confidence in the flesh, I have more: 5 circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee; 6 as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness under the law, blameless. 7 But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. 8 Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord” (Philippians 3:4b-8a).
We hear talk of his conversion experience in the Book of the Acts of the Apostles of Jesus Christ, chapters 9, 22, and 26, as well as in his letter to the Galatians. In these place, Saint Luke and Paul, himself, speak about how Jesus appeared to Paul and those who were with him. While the others’ eyes were kept from recognizing Jesus, they heard things being spoken, and then Paul was struck blind, unable to see. While Paul was unable to see, he could still communicate with those around him. It was at the appearance of Ananias that Paul was comforted with the proclamation of Jesus Christ and the promise of the Holy Spirit as “something like scales fell from his eyes.”
Paul was once again able to see. This caused him to wonder all the more as he then was able to use his eyes, and his other senses, to search deeply the Old Testament to look for Christ therein.
Seeing is something that most people take for granted, even those who must use corrective lenses. We love to see the snow as it is falling, provided that we are in our warm houses and can watch it through the windows. We love to see the kids and grandkids playing when they come over to make snowmen and snow angels. We love to see puppies and kittens frolicking, even in the snow. But what happens if you are no longer able to see?
This is what some people dread as they suffer from cataracts, macular degeneration, and other maladies of the eye. They hold onto the comforting promise of Christ that even their failing eyes will be made new in the resurrection on the last day.
It is the same with the other senses of the body. Ears no longer work as they once did. The sense of smell or taste is dulled and we can no longer smell the wonderful fragrance of flowers, taste the deliciousness of chocolates, and other things which we hope to receive in a few weeks’ time.
While many people look forward to the resurrection of the flesh on the last day, others look forward to corrective surgeries to buy a little time on this side of the resurrection. While our eyes may never have been blinded so that we cannot see, we don’t always see as we should.
This is the part of the reason that “Amazing Grace” is so important in the lives of many Christians. While we might not be blind, we have been blinded to the beauty of God’s world and those who we have hurt with our sin. We have turned a cold shoulder to those who need warmth and love in this cold weather world. We should repent of our sins, call upon God to forgive, and receive His wonderful comforting word of forgiveness, just as He forgave Paul.
This is what Saint Paul is so glad to confess after His conversion. Saint Paul had been the chief of sinners, and the surpassing worth of Christ’s most wonderful pardoning forgiveness is great for someone who is a poor, miserable sinner. This is also what we receive as God, in Christ, forgives our sins and trespasses.
As we look to Saint Paul, we see the miracle working forgiveness of Christ in action. We see how God can take those who formerly persecuted the Church and make them wonderful proclaimers of the great good news of the Gospel. We see how God working in the heart and mind of one who was against him to make him a wonderful proclaimer of the forgiveness of Christ.
We should also see a little of ourselves in Saint Paul. While our sins might not have been as great as Saint Paul, they are still an affront to the holiness of God, and they can still be forgiven, just as Saint Paul received God’s forgiveness from one who was sent to him. As we prepare for this weekend’s services, be prepared for God to work His Word of forgiveness in you as He forgives all your sins and trespasses, just as you pray for in the Lord’s Prayer. The God who works miracles for those who need Him continues to come to forgive sinners, of whom Saint Paul may have been chief in his own mind. This is the great good news that Saint Paul, after his conversion, was able to proclaim to anyone who needed to hear that they are forgiven.
