The Community and Saul

I should mention before I start this afternoon's post, that the two other parts of "Thoughts about Forgiveness" are written and ready to go. Saul seems to have intruded throughout the weekend, though.

One of this week's lectionary readings is Acts 9:1-20, which is the conversion of Saul. Reading it this morning, and the Disciples devotion about it, I was struck by the statement it makes about the necessity for community. The sermon today enhanced that idea for me.

It's not a connection I've ever made before. Think about it, though.

Saul has been persecuting Christians. As Carol said this morning, he felt that his religion was threatened, and he was doing anything he could to eliminate that threat. On the road to Damascus, he was blinded by a bright light, and he heard the voice of Jesus. He was blind for three days as he prayed and fasted.

Imagine for a moment Saul's situation. He is unexpectedly and dramatically made blind. Out in the middle of no where, with no warning. He has to rely on those who are with him to make it to Damascus, or he would have been stuck on the road.

He has to rely on Judas (whoever he is) for a place to stay for those three days. He doesn't exist in a vacuum for those three days. There must have been people in that house who were caring for him. Helping him.

I like what Carol said this morning -- he was blind so that he could see the truth for the first time (I'm paraphrasing).

And then there is Ananias. Poor Ananias, who has to go to a man who he considers an enemy, and heal him. He does it only because he is obedient to God. He certainly doesn't want to do it.

Saul's conversion to Paul was not complete until the Body of Christ entered into the story. Because of the men on the road with Saul, Judas' household and Ananias, Saul is able to meet Jesus, face to face, and he is changed.

I think it is a scripture which teaches us a few things about community:

• There are times that we need help, and there are times when we have to accept help, whether we want to or not.
• There are times when following God means that we give help to someone who we would rather not help. There are times when we are "community" to someone who with whom we would not normally choose to be in community.
• There are times when God's will can only be done in community. What would have happened if no one had been there to help Saul, or to bring him God's word and to do God's will?

We shouldn't forget these lessons. We are givers and receivers of grace through the Body of Christ.

What happened to Saul? He was healed. He regained his sight, he was baptised (can't do that without community, either), he ate (someone probably got him food), and he found his voice to preach God's word.

God's will was done because people brought grace to Saul.