Remember March of 2020 when the coronavirus invaded our world and everything began to shut down, included our churches. Remember how, within several months, people talked about when things “return to normal?” Now, almost two years later, things have not returned to normal and viruses are still impacting us.
Two thousand years ago, Jesus of Nazareth, invaded the world. To some religious leaders he was a nuisance who was stirring up trouble. They conspired to have him put to death, believing that with him out of the way things would “return to normal.” Little did they realize that with Jesus out of the way, their version of “normal” kept getting worse and worse until Jerusalem was finally put out of business by Rome.
At the same time Jerusalem was sliding downhill, God was invading the world in a new way. The work of Jesus did not end at his death; in fact, it had just begun. If the leaders thought Jesus was a nuisance, what must they have thought when his followers did, not only the works that Jesus did, but even greater works (see John 14:12).
One powerful example of someone doing “greater works” than Jesus was the Apostle Paul. Today the Church celebrates his conversion. We know the story. While on the way to Damascus to arrest Christians, Paul was knocked down and blinded by a mysterious light from heaven. A disciple of Jesus, Ananias, visited Paul, restored his sight, baptized him, and prayed over him that he be filled with the Holy Spirit. Paul lost no time in proclaiming Jesus to the people of Damascus (Acts 9:1-22).
“He stayed some days with the disciples in Damascus, and he began at once to proclaim Jesus in the synagogues. All who heard him were astounded and said, ‘Isn’t this the man who in Jerusalem ravaged those who call upon this name…But Saul grew all the stronger and confounded the Jews who live in Damascus…”
Paul continued to astonish people the same way Jesus had done in his earthly ministry, and he did it much longer than three years. And Paul’s ministry went far beyond the tiny region where Jesus spent most of his time. He established many Christian communities, whereas Jesus established only one.
Throughout the history of the Church, God has raised up many “Pauls” to continue the works of Jesus throughout the world. Jesus had foretold this in his final message to the Apostles (Mark 16:15-18)
“Go into the whole world and proclaim the Gospel to every creature. Whoever believes and his baptized will be saved; whoever does not believe will be condemned. These signs will accompany those who believe in my name: they will drive out demons, they will speak in new languages. They will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.”
Did we catch the “they” in this passage? Jesus didn’t say that only Paul and the Twelve apostles would drive out demons, speak new languages, and heal the sick. He said that these works would accompany “those who believe in (Jesus’) name.” Do we believe in Jesus’ name? Then these signs are supposed to accompany us as well.
The Church has feast days such as this not only to honor the saints, but to challenge us to imitate them. How well are we doing in this regard?
We ask: How am I to proclaim the Gospel to every creature? What signs are accompanying me as I try to present Jesus to the world?
“I chose you from the world, to go and bear fruit that will last” (John 15:16).
