Galatians 1:11-19, especially vss. 15, 16: "...it pleased God...to reveal His Son in me, that I might preach Him among the Gentiles...." St. John Chrysostom summarizes the Apostle Paul's conversion on the road to Damascus (Acts 9:1-8) thus: "he was richly endowed with the Spirit, the revelation had enlightened his whole soul, and he had Christ speaking within him." Combine St. John's observation with the Apostle's own words in today's reading, and God's impact on the man stands out clearly.
This pattern repeats itself throughout Scripture: the Holy, Consubstantial, and Undivided Trinity, One God, personally intervenes in human life and history. In St. Paul's case, all the Persons of the Tri-unity are disclosed, illumining the inner life of a man lost in the darkness of hatred and self-righteousness. God makes an Apostle of him. St. Paul had no catechumenate following his conversion. Rather, after receiving the Baptismal Mystery, he drew apart into Arabia, avoiding the centers of Christian activity and teaching. He had come face to face with the Lord Jesus by the will of God the Father in the power of the Holy Spirit. He needed time to assimilate what had transpired within him in a moment on the highway.
It is worthwhile to compare St. Paul's encounter with the Lord and the experiences of others who came face to face with Christ. Some approached the Lord; others Christ sought out. The records give little detail concerning the recruiting of each one of the Twelve. St. Mark states that He "called to Him those He Himself wanted, and they came to Him. Then He appointed twelve that they might be with Him and that He might send them out..." (Mk. 3:13,14).
In this respect, St. Paul, although "as one born out of due time" (1 Cor. 15:8), still shared the common apostolic experience of being called and appointed by the Lord. It seems that none of the other Apostles experienced so cataclysmic an upheaval in life as did St. Paul. Yet for each of them, coming face to face with the Lord Jesus brought a whole new orientation to life.
What bearing does facing the Lord have for us? St. Paul's case is particularly important, because, like us, he faced the Lord in a different way than the other Apostles. St. John speaks for the Twelve: "That...which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, concerning the Word of life - the life was manifested, and we have seen...." As we say, "They knew the Lord first hand." But is it possible to say that St. Paul did not know Christ first hand? And every true Christian knows Him "first hand.'
Notice what St. Paul's encounter with the Lord shows: God is not bound by our five senses. The Lord has fashioned us in such a manner that He may speak to us in our hearts. We pray for this inner knowledge: "Illumine our hearts, O Master. Open the eyes of our mind. Implant in us Thy blessed commandments. Come and dwell in us and cleanse us of every stain of sin." Even those who knew Christ "after the flesh" (2 Cor. 5:16) discovered, as they remained with Him over time, that their inner eyes saw much more than did their physical eyes. Remember what He said to St. Peter, "Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but My Father which is in heaven" (Mt. 16:17). In both St. Peter's case just quoted and in St. Paul's conversion, God the Father "revealed" Christ (Gal. 1:12, 16).
When we consider the lives of those who came face to face with Christ, we admit freely that facing Him is life's greatest blessing. As St. Paul said, "He is not very far from each one of us" (Acts 17:27). Seek Him, cry out to Him, pray to Him, wait upon Him. Never forget: He took our flesh that we might come face to face with Him, call Him Lord, and receive salvation.
Great is the Mystery of Thine Incarnation, O Lord; Glory to Thee!