From the Archives: What Shall I Do, Lord?

25 Thursday Jan 2024

Posted by Jerry Robinson in Evangelization

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Acts 22:10, Catholic, christian, christianity, Conversion, Conversion of St. Paul, Evangelization, Faith, Meditation, Prayer, Resolution, St. Paul

(A reflection on Acts 22:10)

Today, we celebrate the Feast of the Conversion of St. Paul. As I meditated on today’s Scripture, I had a deja vu feeling I had been there before. Looking back, I discovered I’d offered a reflection four years ago today, and decided it was worth sharing again.

We are all called to proclaim the Gospel. How we do that begins with each of us asking the question:

What Shall I Do, Lord?

On this Feast of the Conversion of St. Paul we hear St. Paul ask, “What shall I do, Lord?”, after he is blinded on his way to Damascus to arrest Christians. His question is proof of his instant conversion to follow Christ.

It’s a good question for each of us to ask every day, as well, if we desire to follow Christ and grow in holiness. There’s no better way to begin one’s day than through meditation asking the Lord to reveal His will for us. It’s our job, then, to listen and make a resolution to go do it.

“Heavenly Father, through St. Paul and the other Apostles, the faith was spread throughout the world. As I celebrate his conversion today, I pray that I may follow his witness in at least my little part of the world. Amen.”

(From the Archives: What Shall I Do, Lord?, was first published on the blog Reflections of a Lay Catholic)

©2013-2024 Reflections of a Lay Catholic. Reposting and sharing of material in its full and original content is permitted, provided that full and clear credit is given to the author(s) and Reflections of a Lay Catholic.

Pray Like Saints Paul and Timothy

06 Wednesday Sep 2023

Posted by Jerry Robinson in Prayer, Thanksgiving

≈ 4 Comments

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Colossians 1:1-8, Prayer, St. Paul, St. Timothy, Thanksgiving

In today’s first reading from Paul’s letter to the Church in Colossae (Col 1:1-8), St. Paul writes that he and Timothy offer prayers of thanksgiving for them because of their faith in Jesus and their hope for heaven.

We say prayers of petition asking for God’s help, often for the intentions of someone we love to grow deeper in their faith. We say prayers of thanksgiving for all the grace and mercy we receive but don’t deserve. But, how often do we give thanks and pray for those who already know the love of Christ, who follow Him, and who proclaim the Gospel at every chance? Do we tell them and affirm them that, by glorifying God with their words and in their actions, they are making the world a better place, that they are doing their part to grow His Kingdom? Maybe not so much.

We are one Church, one Body, and, if we practice the theological virtue of charity as we ought, we look outside of ourselves to other people. Usually our focus is on the poor and needy, the sick, and those who are far from our Lord. But, we can’t forget to recognize the good that people do, especially the good that results from those who have a deep faith and love for Jesus. Without them, there would be no proclamation of the Gospel and no propagation of the faith.

Our world today presents us with endless disorder and distractions that work to diminish the faith of even the strongest among us. Couple this with the natural force of entropy, and the faithful are faced with a constant uphill battle. Is there any wonder why Christianity, and especially Catholicism, in America is on the decline? Perhaps one reason is that we do not affirm, accompany, and pray specifically for continued courage and strength for all of our holy brothers and sisters, especially our priests, who are committed to making disciples and bringing the love of Christ to all people.

“Heavenly Father, I give You thanks for all the holy priests, deacons, religious, lay leaders and evangelists, and spiritual directors who proclaim the Gospel in their words and deeds. I don’t encourage them and pray for them nearly as much as I should. Thank You for opening my heart and mind to Your Word today. I resolve to sow the seeds of this Word by making a concrete resolution to pray daily for, and give thanks for all those who are leading the charge in the battle to win souls. Amen.”

(Pray Like Saints Paul and Timothy was first published on the blog Reflections of a Lay Catholic)

©2013-2023 Reflections of a Lay Catholic. Reposting and sharing of material in its full and original content is permitted, provided that full and clear credit is given to the author(s) and Reflections of a Lay Catholic.

Mission: Possible

01 Friday May 2020

Posted by Jerry Robinson in Bible Reflections, Evangelization

≈ 2 Comments

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Acts 9:1-20, Ananais, Saul, St. Paul

(A reflection on today’s first reading from Acts 9:1-20)

Ananais Restoring the Sight of St. Paul, Jean Il Restout, 1719, The Louvre Museum

One of my favorite television series as a child in the 60’s was Mission: Impossible. At the beginning of each episode, Jim Phelps (played by actor Peter Graves) received a tape recorded message describing a mission being presented to him that began, “Your mission, Jim, should you decide to accept it….”. Each mission was complicated and dangerous and had a high likelihood of ending with him and his team of secret agents losing their lives. Without fail, Agent Phelps accepted the impossible mission and successfully completed it.

This memory came from out of nowhere this morning as I read the Scripture for the day. The first reading from Acts is the account of Saul’s conversion and baptism. The Lord struck Saul, blinded him and left him to sit praying at the house of Judas for three days. Simultaneously, the Lord called upon Ananais, a follower of the Way, to go to Saul and lay hands on him so that he would regain his sight. The Lord told Ananais, “Go, for this man is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before Gentiles, kings, and Israelites, and I will show him what he will have to suffer for in my name.”

Scripture doesn’t say, but Ananais either passed that message along to Saul or it came to Saul via the Holy Spirit, and he immediately began to proclaim Jesus as the Son of God in the synagogues of Damascus.

God created Saul just like the rest of us, with free will to accept him or to turn away from him. Saul chose to accept Jesus as the Son of God and, in so doing, accepted what had to seem like an impossible mission at the time: convince and convert the entire world to do the same. One difference between Saul and Jim Phelps was that Saul knew the mission, in the end, would definitely result in his death.

Saul, the other Apostles, and the saints throughout the centuries made a pretty good start at converting the world. But, the work is still not completed. God calls each of us in our baptism and confirmation to continue their work. With the condition the world is in today, it may seem like an even more impossible mission. Yet, we can do it one person at a time, because the other difference between our work and Jim Phelps’ is that, with God, all things are possible!

What can you do today to be part of the Mission: Possible team?

“Heavenly Father, thank You for Your love. Lord Jesus, thank You for Your forgiveness and mercy. Holy Spirit, thank You for opening my heart to the will of God and urging me to continue the work of the Apostolic Fathers and saints in this Mission: Possible.

“I resolve today, Lord, to reach out to a friend who is hurting and invite her to join my wife and I in praying a Rosary for healing during the month of May, per our Holy Father’s request. Amen.”

(Mission: Possible was first published on the blog Reflections of a Lay Catholic)

©2013-2020 Reflections of a Lay Catholic. Reposting and sharing of material in its full and original content is permitted, provided that full and clear credit is given to the author(s) and Reflections of a Lay Catholic.

What Shall I Do, Lord?

25 Saturday Jan 2020

Posted by Jerry Robinson in Daily 100

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Acts 22:10, Conversion of St. Paul, Meditation, Prayer, Resolution, St. Paul

(A reflection on Acts 22:10)

(What Shall I Do, Lord?, was first published on the blog Reflections of a Lay Catholic)

Be Like Paul

09 Saturday Jun 2018

Posted by Jerry Robinson in Daily 100

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Evangelization, Faith, finish the race, Glory, keep the faith, St. Paul, Truth, Virtue

In today’s first reading (2 Tm 4:1-8), we see first hand St. Paul’s character. He follows sound doctrine, knows the truth, is self-possessed, evangelizes, competes well, finishes the race, and keeps the faith. He knows he’s near the end of his life but he still “sings [God’s] glory every day” (Ps 71:8) and, “speaks of the mighty works of the Lord.” (Ps 71:16).

As I try to grow in virtue I know I can never be perfect like Christ. He is God. But, with His grace, maybe I can get closer to being like Paul.

(Be Like Paul was first published on the blog Reflections of a Lay Catholic)

©2013-2018 Reflections of a Lay Catholic. Reposting and sharing of material in its full and original content is permitted, provided that full and clear credit is given to the author(s) and Reflections of a Lay Catholic.

Daily 100: Style and Substance

06 Wednesday Jun 2018

Posted by Jerry Robinson in Daily 100

≈ 4 Comments

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2 Tm 1:1-3, Faith, Love, Ps 123:2, St. Paul, Style, Substance

I love Paul’s style of introducing himself in his letters (2 Tm 1:1-3): his role as Christ’s disciple, why he’s writing, and compassionate greetings. You know his eyes are “….on the Lord our God”. (Ps 123:2). We can depend on the substance of his word and the strength of his faith.

I’ll never match Paul for his style and substance, but I wonder if those whom I love feel they can depend on my faith to support them in theirs. Are they assured of my love for them as Timothy was of Paul’s? Something to think about.

(Daily 100: Style and Substance was first published on the blog Reflections of a Lay Catholic)