Let faith hope and love abide: Paul of the Nazarene
We have received various gifts which differ according to the grace set apart – let us use them within their respected ministry. If we have the gift of prophecy, then we must prophesy within our faith, if we are given the gift of ministry then it must be rendered accordingly; applying also for those who teach, exhort, wholeheartedly render onto others in aid, guide with diligence and gracefully render mercy. (Rom 12: 9-8)
Many people over the centuries have misunderstood the Holy Apostle and enlightener of the Gentiles Paul who was formally Saul of Tarsus. Let’s face it, a great handful of the very early Christians – people in Jerusalem who were ministered by Archdeacon Stephen took a disliking to him at first for overseeing Stephen’s execution via stoning.
After all, former Saul did persecute the followers of the Nazarene and many of them were intimidated by his knowledge, status and non-tolerance approach with anything that in his eyes – corrupted the synedrion’s understanding of the Hebrew Scriptures.
Former Saul was very much like the scrupulous religious people we see today in our churches and communities; the ones who create a fuss in prayer, put on a show in how great they are when it comes to observing the made up rules and invent a few along the way.
Furthermore, he formally was a man that was consumed by the classic guilt complex many religions put on people and didn’t have much regard for the women back then.
Yet, as we know, when religious fanatics are proven wrong and are shown the evidence; their world comes tumbling down, they may even hyperventilate, sob, and due to being hurt – run away avoiding further confrontation.
This is exactly what happened to Saul when he sort to go on a crusade to hunt down the Nazarene movement along the way to Damascus. He was not halted by a gang of believers, nor was there a debate at which could of ended in bloodshed. Rather, a supernatural experience occurred at which the light of the presence blinded him, and caused him to be thrown off his horse, unharmed yet was disarmed.
The presence was not of one who clearly demonstrates their position via debate, but the very presence of he who came to render clarity to minds and hearts; calming the extreme anxiety of conviction within via the radiating love of his very persona.
Unlike us who may confront or even jump someone who desires ill upon us; his (the presence) voice embraced this wounded person within - asking him why does he hate so much and gets a kick out of inflicting pain???
When someone disarms you in such a fashion – either logic goes out the window or you submit to the situation and hope for the best outcome. Yet when Saul found himself against the wall as a figure of speech and the content of the voice of the presence became a mirror for him to gaze into; he didn’t like what he saw and cried out for help, comfort and in many ways affection – he needed to be loved for he didn’t know how to give it.
In many ways, this is the revelation of what it means to offer the other check – to stand corrected and in humility accept that correction so that you may grow and be nurtured. Therefore, when the Lord revealed onto him that he truly is the Messiah and hope of the prophets; this was the greatest slap on the face you can give to any religious person of the time!
Hence, the Messiah was thought to be a warrior king who would slay the Roman Empire and make Israel great again. Hence, when one finds out that the person one has been mistreating and degrading for most of one’s life is in actual fact God’s gift to you and your life; bitter tears and laments well within.
Thus, the 53rd Chapter within the Book of the holy Prophet Isaiah then inscrolled within the soul of Saul - the Messiah King who comes as the suffering servant totally renewed the person of Saul. Hence, he who persecuted the sufferings of he who suffered, was enlightened at which Psalm 50 Bestow upon me a new spirit which guides my heart to follow thy precepts became his prayer of conversion – known as Paul of the Nazarene.
It has often been said that one learns the hard way and that the road is narrow, yet it takes grounding experience and much suffering which truly shapes our being. The opening wide of the narrow path as exhorted by St. John the Baptist concerning the Lord via quoting the Holy Prophet Isaiah: “Make a steady path for the Lord whilst all things are levelled out - for the glory of God will be revealed!” (Isa 40: 3-5)
Hence, the reality of conversion along the road to Damascus was one that initially freaked him out: we are all plagued with fertile imaginations about what others would say especially with those who know us well. This was an act of Apostasy – reaching out to that which one tried to avoid or even detested according to cultural and religious convictions.
Many of us who have grown up in a particular culture, trained to think in a set way tend to discourage any form of conversion or difference within our approach to things especially creed. In actual fact, we would live more in the fear of knowing what happens when one goes against the general expectation rather than living fully via embracing the truth and the freedom that comes with it.
Yet, as with Paul and many of the holy throughout the centuries, the time came for them to live rather than being content to merely exist. Thus, their conversion and any in general happens when one is touched by the grace of the Holy Spirit. It becomes the equivalent of a modern makeover – a thorough renewal and deep communion with the greater reality: the Kingdom of God!
We tend to live in an age that laments over the most smallest and insignificant hurdles encountered; it is these that should shape our lives and acquire us via humility an extraordinary sense of resilience. Many complain how far the world has gone and that things are truly hard to deal with….
The age of technology has certainly equipped us with on the spot knowledge making things easy and hard at the same time; yet when we speak of organic living, many do not want to train hard in life in order to get somewhere – the synthetic mindset prevails!
It took Paul much heartache and wholehearted detox to come to terms with his life, faith, conversion and growth – often trying to be acceptable to fit in with the others. We all know about the heated discussions (Paul having a strong and determined character) he had with the Apostle Peter and others in the years of the Acts, yet it takes much effort to get into the inner circle – to gain trust and confidence.
Let’s remember the Apostle John’s displeasure (Mk 9:38) and perhaps initial jealousy with others who were not part of the group (the apostles) which were given power to work in the Lord’s Name. We have all had to work our way up and sometimes in very unpleasant circumstances, yet our faith and hope in the Lord’s desire for us encouraged us to continue in the pursuit out of love for his/our purpose.
Yet this apostle embraced all people and in many ways appreciated the culture and mentality of those he would minister to abroad; a well of living water for those who thirsted for life everlasting amidst the worlds anxieties and parched existence.
When the Lord gives us a gift or many thereof, we are to nourish ourselves with the knowledge of such and at the same time share these with others around us so they too be edified; the joy of giving to another human person and nourishing their longing soul.
They then brought to him a paralytic laying on a stretcher – Jesus perceived their faith at which he said to the paralytic: “Son, let joy well up within your soul for this day you are loosed from your bonds!” (Mt 9: 2)
Although many saints received the grace to heal in the Name of the Lord, yet others may not have that same grace, but we are all called to heal if we are to be his hands and feet in the world! We often overlook the underlying condition of others or perhaps forget our own – people may find themselves in a vulnerable, confused, and hurt state as was Saul of Tarsus.
Many people unfortunately think due to the guilt complex imposed them ether via culture or creed that they are beyond love and nurturing – unworthy of TLC. This guilt complex is precisely why many good potential folk are so screwed up in the head and via the pain they carry – unwillingly inflict pain on others due to their lack of nurturing. St. John Chrysostom said that the Church – the living community of faith should resemble a hospital that brings healing onto the afflicted.
Although this is true with very few holy and loving communities, yet it is virtually non-existent in the modern world. Unfortunately, the surgeons (clergy) and nurses (believers) become infected and harden in heart - losing focus in daily conversion; going from Paul of the Nazarene to Saul of Tarsus.
It is also interesting to note that many supposed NON APOSTOLIC scholars tend to think that Paul somehow distorted Christianity and made it become the religion it is today – this couldn’t be further away from the truth. I must say that many elements within the present form is rather unhealthy and diseased!
We need to remember that Paul was formerly well educated, he did carry those hurts and past convictions regarding the Lord and his people, yet he went through the school of hard Knox so to speak which grounded him for an extraordinary upcoming ministry.
Hence, Psalm 50 in actual fact renders a portrait of who Paul was and became especially when we read: For you seek sincere inward praise and not outward gestures that lack foundation; ritual offerings must be rendered thee wholeheartedly – hearts that have suffered and endured are never turned away!
However corrupted translations of the Pauline letters have surfaced over the years due to covering scandal, Paul was a man with much pain – a thorn in the side; growing up in a society which was corrupt where inhumane practices were the norm. The greatest of these abominations against the Lord were rape and pedophilia which were conveniently re-worded.
Our world has seen many activists from various backgrounds who in one way or another have had to face certain consequences. Yet, back then there was no such thing as whistle blowing for it was a crime - especially if one were to bring dishonour to the mighty as did St. John the Baptist who rightfully denounced the House of Herod. (Lk 3:19)
When the Apostle Paul founded Rome (established the Church in Rome) and placed administrating presbyters Linus, Cletus and Clement in charge of those communities, he was met with opposition from all corners. Quite a number of his pastoral letters addressed to church communities and his disciples Timothy, Titus and Philemon are written from his prison cell. A most popular one mirroring this situation which is used for memorial services is the Letter to Timothy: I have fought the good fight, ran the race and kept the faith! (2Tim 4:7)
When the Lord reminded his own (Lk 21:16) – be mindful of the people you know, your circle of friends and family members who will undoubtedly betray you; this ran true for Paul especially in Rome where his own people began bickering to the authorities about him proselyting amongst the Hebrews.
We see this behaviour furnished via loss of control and jealousy when people walk away from their former place of worship and go elsewhere. People and church leaders need to come to terms with the apostolic mindset which caters for all people, the needs of the time and context which must be offered in holy liturgy accordingly. If we no longer meet the people half way and offer them true worship – they will bolt out the door and so they should!!!
We have all undoubtedly been betrayed by others within whatever context in life, yet however painful such may be – surely it brings purpose and renewed vision. When Paul speaks of wheat, leaven and bread referring to the Church as the Lord’s body (1Cor 5:7) ; it makes sense to our situation when we think that flour, water, salt and yeast is rendered as dough which must be set to rise, worked again, set aside and prepared for baking.
There is a wonderful testimony an Apostolic Father – disciple of an apostle (St. John) left us regarding our lives, our works and our offerings complimenting Paul’s analogy of proclaiming the Lord’s mysteries in holy liturgy. St. Ignatius bishop of Antioch 108-140 AD sent a letter to the Church in Rome regarding their efforts to release him from prison.
A well-known fate for many of our holy martyrs was to be lunch for the hungry lions and tigers of the gladiator arena. Hence, Ignatius wrote a sublime letter of surrendering to the mercy of God becoming a worthy sacrifice of praise as prayed in Psalm 141 writing: “I am the wheat of God that shall be ground down and refined by the teeth of the wild beasts so that I be made worthy to be a pure loaf of bread offered in Christ!”
We have been in and out of Covid 19 restrictions, the world will never be the same as we have known, appreciated or even took for granted….let us come to a realization that many are very fragile in mind due to such happening. The next time we gather with family, friends and loved ones; let’s take that opportunity to deepen/strengthen our ties with them and nurture the occasion as best we can.
Within this timeframe, there have been people that have missed out, have had no company at all due to their conditions, may not even have had a decent meal….just taking someone out for a cup of coffee or making a meal for them and spending some time with such will in many ways bring purpose to their life and in actual fact be Christ embracing them as a parent does their child.
In a few months we will hear carols like; Tis the season to be jolly… the ambiance of good will and works. May I remind all that the divine fests are every day….when one can be charitable and reach out with TLC to another person truly in need; that person is born again – restored to life! We don’t have to look far, people truly in need may be next door, across the road or down the street - even a person we may have cut off due to our ego eating us up!
Lord, hear the prayer of your Saints and be merciful onto us and all who need your grace. Amen!
Be kind and affectionate to each other with true love – honour one another by giving preference onto another before yourself; serve the Lord with diligence, be fervent in spirit, rejoice in hope baring patience in tribulations – praying always and in hospitality distributing that which is needful for the community of the saints. If you are persecuted, do not curse but let your words be a blessing. (Rom 12: 10-14)
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