"'Get up and go into Damascus, and there you will be told about everything appointed for you to do.'"
Acts 22:10
St. Paul planned to arrive in Damascus to arrest Christians and “to bring back to Jerusalem in chains for punishment those there as well.”
Yet encountering Jesus along the way, he enters into Damascus much differently than his own plans: Jesus says to him, “Get up and go into Damascus, and there you will be told about everything appointed for you to do.” When Paul does arrive in Damascus, he’s led by the hand and not even able to see!
This is authentic conversion: to have our plans transformed from what we want to do to what Jesus wants to do. St. Paul surrendered to what Jesus wanted to do through him--and even today we still read of those who accepted the Gospel message of Jesus through him.
How is Jesus currently inviting me to shift from my plans to His plans?
Jesus, grant me greater surrender to your plans for my life.
Today’s Reflection is by:
Fr. Connor Penn
Did you know…
Fr. Connor Penn is parochial vicar at St. Catherine of Siena Catholic Church in Clearwater. Ordained in 2020, Fr. Penn briefly studied journalism before entering the seminary. Fr. Penn grew up in Temple Terrace, attending Corpus Christi Catholic School and later Jesuit High School.
