Frenemy

        There are several characters in history and in the very present who have all the earmarks of being a villian. Think of a public figure who lies, torments, perhaps even tortures. Think of someone who promulgates hate and revenge, even a myopic view of justice and citizenship.  I can think of several that I might dare say have little chance of redemption although I do firmly believe people can change and see the light so to speak. Got a person in mind? Well this is Saul, or Paul as we know him, that we are talking about.

         The zealous persecutor, killer and bane of Christians, saw the light, apparently literally, and was changed forever. If you were a Christian back in  the day, would you have accepted him into your community? I can hear the cries of 'liar', traitor and spy!

          I can only imagine, hope and pray such would happen to someone in current history. But in our daily, run of the mill lives, is there anyone who says that they have changed? How have we received them? or not at all?

          Jesus admonishes us to forgive 70x7 and to turn the other cheek. Can we do this safely and do we really want to do it at all?  Big issues and small issues, do we see forgiveness as even a consideration?

           Saint Paul is perhaps the second most important person in Christianity aside from Jesus himself. Without Paul, we might still be a strict sect of Judaism and gentiles would not be welcome short of outright conversion to Judaism first.  Paul is pretty darn important in the changes and message he spread. Very powerful. Would our own calling to forgive and accept others be less powerful if we truly believed and truly engaged the teachings of the one we call Messiah?

Acts 9:1-9

Meanwhile Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any who belonged to the Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. Now as he was going along and approaching Damascus, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, ‘Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?’ He asked, ‘Who are you, Lord?’ The reply came, ‘I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.But get up and enter the city, and you will be told what you are to do.’The men who were travelling with him stood speechless because they heard the voice but saw no one. Saul got up from the ground, and though his eyes were open, he could see nothing; so they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus. For three days he was without sight, and neither ate nor drank.