January 25 is the feast day of the conversion of St. Paul, one of the brightest examples in all of Christianity of God’s divine mercy in action through a personal conversion.
Throughout human history, God has used personal conversions in a myriad of incredible and world-changing ways—at times through some of the most unexpected people and circumstances.
“God has used personal conversions in a myriad of incredible and world-changing ways—at times through some of the most unexpected people and circumstances.”
That is certainly the case with St. Paul, a vehement Christian persecutor made an apostle.
Paul, then called Saul, was on his way to round up all Jews at Damascus who confessed Jesus as Lord and bring them bound to Jerusalem. Near the end of his journey, he was surrounded by a great light from heaven, fell to the ground, and heard the voice of Christ: “Saul, Saul, why dost thou persecute me?” (Acts 9:4)
Despite all the harm he had previously done to followers of Christ, Saul listened, was baptized by Ananias, and converted to a new life as an apostle of our Lord Jesus.
The Ecological Conversion Needed for Lasting Change
As Christians, we have already committed our lives to Christ. But there is another conversion that can lead us to a profound spiritual rebirth. One in which our commitment to Jesus becomes evident in our relationship with the world around us.
In Laudato Si’, Pope Francis uses the word “conversion” thirteen times, most notably in our need for an “ecological conversion” to bring about lasting change.
“By developing our individual, God-given capacities, an ecological conversion can inspire us to greater creativity and enthusiasm in resolving the world’s problems and in offering ourselves to God ‘as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable’ (Rom 12:1). (LS 220)
“By developing our individual, God-given capacities, an ecological conversion can inspire us to greater creativity and enthusiasm in resolving the world’s problems.”
The seven Laudato Si’ Goals provide guidance on urgent and immediate actions each one of us can take in the care of our common home, leading us to the ecological conversion Pope Francis calls us to in his encyclical.
Outlining in your Laudato Si’ Plan your concrete steps to help protect and improve our world reveals a heartfelt and manifest effort towards achieving reconciliation with creation.
“Outlining in your Laudato Si’ Plan your concrete steps to help protect and improve our world reveals a heartfelt and manifest effort towards achieving reconciliation with creation.”
“To achieve such reconciliation, we must examine our lives and acknowledge the ways in which we have harmed God’s creation through our actions and our failure to act.” (LS 218)
Your ecological conversion can start today. Paired with your committed life to Christ, you can help prepare for a better future, and uphold justice, peace, love and beauty throughout the world.
Amen!