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Paul and the Church have been bound together for all these centuries. Though he was not one of the twelve who knew Jesus while He was on earth, Paul met Him in another more intimate way. When Christ showed Himself to Paul on the road to Damascus, Paul found the fully Risen Lord in all His Glory. He fell to his knees, and heard Christ say "Saul, Saul why do you persecute me?" Paul had been a strong advocate of the destruction of the Christian movement. He now faced the One who was his greatest enemy, Christ, and when in that moment seeing the Truth before his eyes, Paul was struck blind. For three days he could not see, is this not a parallel to the three days between the Death of Christ and His Resurrection? In this time of blindness was not his heart and soul saturated with the Truth that Christ was the Messiah the Son of the Living God?

Jesus appeared to him, His form of Light and Majesty. Would Jesus have not inspired 'Saul' with all that had happened to Him, all the truths explained by the prophets, enlightening Saul with all the signs and wonders that he had rejected? And then given him the gift of the Holy Spirit when, on Christ's command, Ananias opened his eyes. It was not only sight as we see, but of the sight that encompasses the Love, Grace and Infinite Goodness that Christ has shown him.

He was filled with the Holy Spirit, and proclaimed to all the Messiahship of Christ. His whole being became so inspired that nothing could stop him from proclaiming the Good News to all he met. Not the Jewish authorities who were out to kill him, nor the Romans who imprisoned him and then put him to death. He would not be silenced.

His special mission was the conversion of the Gentiles, those who were not of the Jewish faith, because Christ came for ALL mankind. Paul's zealous proclamations won over many thousands to the faith, not only in Israel but in the countries surrounding it. When you read his Letters, in the epistles you can still feel the strength of his convictions and his love for Christ. His messages resound through the ages and today as well.

Paul, who was Saul, along with the Apostles of the Lord, brought the whole world the words of Christ through the writings of faith, encouragement, love and witness. He, along with Peter, will always remain, the leaders of the Christian Church until the end of time. Their witness inspires us to reach to the Lord with our hands raised high, and say "Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is He who comes in the Name of the Lord, Hosanna in the Highest!" Matthew 21:9

"For I am certain that neither death or life, neither angels nor principalities, neither the present nor the future, nor powers, neither height nor depth nor any other creature, will be able to separate us from the love of God that comes to us in Christ Jesus, our Lord." Romans 8:38

Learn more about this author, Rosemary Sulz.
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