Paul’s Mission Begins

We are continuing to read from the Acts of the Apostles for our first reading these days. Saul, after his conversion and after he begins his missionary journeys, will no more use the Hebrew form of his name “Saul” but will use the Latin form of his name “Paul.” Being aware that he is set apart by the Holy Spirit not merely for his “own people” but that he is sent to all people, especially the non-Jews, he wants to become a universal person, a man for all. For Paul, who was already a Roman citizen (Acts 16:37), it is a further step in becoming integrated into the world of the non-Jews.

Once the mission began, Paul becomes the obvious leader. From our readings yesterday and today, we come to know that Paul and his companions do not stay in Cyprus; they leave behind groups of believers who have been hastily instructed.

When they set sail and arrive on the continent, at the inhospitable area of Perga, John Mark leaves them. Paul’s daring plans may have scared him. They go through the mountain range of modern day Turkey and reach the heart of the province of Pisidia at Antioch (which must not be confused with the Antioch of Syria).

Paul is invited to speak in the synagogue, and in his discourse he returns to the history of Israel (similar to Peter’s discourse in Acts 2 and Stephen’s in Acts 7), which may not interest us but for the Jews there was nothing more interesting than being reminded of this history that they knew by heart and which gave them their identity in the midst of other people. Today Paul presents this history, highlighting a series of facts that gives it meaning and clearly leads to Christ. Paul shows that God’s promises to Israel have been fulfilled in the resurrection of Christ.

We as Christians are invited to be witness if Christ’s resurrection from the dead. Our lives need to be a joyful testimony of resurrection, that God can do the impossible even in our lives. God is in control of our lives and ways, and if only we allow Him into our plans today we can see His marvels and wonders.

As from today’s (and tomorrow’s) first reading we understand that God is active in history, first in Israel’s history and then in Jesus Christ and then in the life of the early Christians, and now we are in that line of history where God is entirely involved. He is the source and the end of all these events, but also He is the Way, one who is grounding all these events in history. God is not only at the beginning and the end of every road, but He himself is that Way: the process, the journey, the means by which we can arrive at our final destination.

Our Christian faith is not a brilliant doctrine of some intelligent thinkers, but it is the outcome of what God has done in history, of what God has done concretely in our lives. The resurrection makes a new departure for all human history. Even our broken dreams and shattered lives have a meaning if we allow God into the picture. He can transform everything and everyone! Isn’t this also the meaning of resurrection?