Fast Fridays: 30 Minutes for God: Difference between revisions
→Friday, Nov 8: Saint Paul
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== Friday, Nov 8: Saint Paul == | == Friday, Nov 8: Saint Paul & the Living Christ == | ||
We skipped last week for All Saints Day. The following day was All Souls Day. I love the juxtaposition of the two feasts: those who made it and those who could use a little push! | We skipped last week for All Saints Day. The following day was All Souls Day. I love the juxtaposition of the two feasts: those who made it and those who could use a little push! | ||
As I stood in line for Confession, I read from Acts. I got to Chapter 25, in which Paul is still in Caesarea, after the unsuccessful extortion attempt by the Roman governor Felix, who held him for two yeas hoping for a bribe ([https://bible.usccb.org/bible/acts/24?27 Acts 24:27]). Felix hands him over to his successor, Porcius Festus, who tries to hand Paul back over to the Jews, but is thwarted by Paul's appeal, as a Roman citizen to Caesar. | As I stood in line for Confession, I read from Acts. I got to Chapter 25, in which Paul is still in Caesarea, after the unsuccessful extortion attempt by the Roman governor Felix, who held him for two yeas hoping for a bribe ([https://bible.usccb.org/bible/acts/24?27 Acts 24:27]). Felix hands him over to his successor, Porcius Festus, who tries to hand Paul back over to the Jews, but is thwarted by Paul's appeal, as a Roman citizen to Caesar. | ||
The Pharisees are thwarted, and the baffled Festus turns Paul over to the local King, Agrippa and his wife, Bernice. Agrippa is curious | The Pharisees are thwarted, and the baffled Festus turns Paul over to the local King, Agrippa and his wife, Bernice. Agrippa is curious, and Festus explains the problem,<blockquote>Instead they had some issues with him about their own religion and about a certain Jesus who had died but who Paul claimed was alive.<ref>[https://bible.usccb.org/bible/acts/25?19 Acts 25:19]</ref></blockquote>I find this a remarkable passage that we might normally walk past: Paul testified to the resurrected Christ. | ||
So much to discuss in Paul, and so many directions and diversions. | |||
Instead, let's focus on "why Paul"" | |||
Paul is the perfect Apostle for the mission Christ embarks him upon, to spread the Good News to the Gentiles: | Paul is the perfect Apostle for the mission Christ embarks him upon, to spread the Good News to the Gentiles: | ||
* Pharisee, learned under Gamaliel | |||
* Pharisee, learned under | |||
* Persecuted Christians | * Persecuted Christians | ||
* Born outside of Israel | * Born outside of Israel | ||
* | * Speaks Greek Latin and Hebrew | ||
* Roman citizen | * Roman citizen | ||
Paul was the perfect vehicle for Christ! | |||
== Friday, Oct 25: The Limits of sins of omission == | == Friday, Oct 25: The Limits of sins of omission == | ||