How many times have we been like Saul in our lives? Surely many times, experiencing spiritual blindness when things were going well for us and we set our priorities on material things instead of God. As imperfect beings, we fall into temptation and stray from the teachings of the Catholic faith. Even though Saul had perfectly healthy eyes he was blind to the ways of the Lord. He refused to believe until he was struck blind, and only by following God’s instructions did he regain his sight. It was through Saul’s newfound faith in God that his sight was restored.
Sometimes when we can’t find a solution to our problems and have exhausted all our possibilities, we finally turn to God. It’s unfair to put God last on our list of possible solutions because He is there waiting to help us from the very beginning.
At parties, there are always food and drinks and enjoyable conversations, allowing us to have a good time with the people around us. If I think a little more about today’s Gospel, God feeds us with His Body in the host and His Blood in the consecrated wine at Sunday Mass and on holy days. Using this analogy, the Mass is a spiritual party for our souls, reminding us that God sacrificed Himself for us by dying on the cross. He gives us bread and wine, the best banquet that our spirit and faith need. We shouldn’t go to Mass just to be present, but rather we should actively participate by receiving Holy Communion, even if that means our own conversion is necessary.
Saul’s conversion shows us that we can all make a 180-degree turn to make straight our pathway to God. It’s not easy, but it’s not that difficult either. We just need to choose to do it and consistently follow the teachings of the Church, which will allow us to receive the Body and Blood of Jesus, which will give us eternal life. Don’t leave God in last place; instead, let God into the first place in your life. Just like Saint Paul, God awaits us with open arms and wants us to know His infinite love.
Cuántas veces hemos sido Saulo en nuestras vidas? Seguramente muchas veces, al tener una ceguera parcial ante varios momentos de nuestras vidas cuando nos iba bien, la prioridad eran las cosas materiales y no Dios. Al ser seres imperfectos, caemos en tentaciones y nos apartamos de las enseñanzas de la fe Católica. Saulo, con los ojos en buena salud, también estaba cegado al camino del Señor. Se negaba a creer hasta que tuvo la ceguera y siguiendo las instrucciones de Dios se recuperó la vista. Por la nueva fe que tuvo Saulo en Dios se recuperó la vista.
A veces en los momentos donde no encontramos salida a nuestros problemas y hemos agotado todas las soluciones posibles, recien miramos a Dios. Es injusto dejar a Dios en la última posición de nuestra lista de posibles soluciones porque desde un principio está esperando a ayudarnos.
En las fiestas siempre hay comida y bebida, conversaciones divertidas donde la pasamos bien con la gente alrededor. Si me pongo a pensar un poco más en el Evangelio de hoy, Dios nos da de comer su cuerpo en la hostia y su sangre en el vino consagrado en la misa dominical y días santos. Utilizando la lógica, puedo decir que la misa es una fiesta espiritual para nuestra alma para hacernos recordar que Dios se sacrificó por nosotros muriendo en la cruz. Nos da el mejor banquete que nuestro espíritu y fe necesita con el pan y vino. No solo hay que ir a misa para estar presentes, sino más bien debemos participar activamente recibiendo la comunión, pero para eso capaz hay necesidad de nuestra propia conversión.
La conversión de Saulo, nos demuestra que todos podemos girar 180 grados para enderezar nuestro camino hacia Dios. No es fácil pero tampoco es tan difícil. Solo hay que tener la voluntad y ser constante todos los días para seguir las enseñanzas de la iglesia, lo cual nos permitirá recibir el cuerpo y la sangre de Jesús, que nos dará vida eterna. No dejes a Dios en la última posición, más bien haz que Dios entre en tu vida para ser primero. Igual que a San Pablo, Dios nos espera con los brazos abiertos y quiere que conozcamos su amor infinito.
Felix Urcia was born in Lima, Peru. He moved the U.S. to complete his college degree in Computer Science at Northern Kentucky University. He is passionate about his faith, his family, education and soccer. When he is not homeschooling and caring for his young children he enjoys personal programing projects and sports analysis. He and wife live in a small town in Western Michigan where they enjoy spending time with their five children.
Feature Image Credit: Carl Schmuauk, art.diocesan.com/stock-photo/saul-before-damascus-25148/
The views and opinions expressed in the Inspiration Daily blog are solely those of the original authors and contributors. These views and opinions do not necessarily represent those of Diocesan, the Diocesan staff, or other contributors to this blog.
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