24/09/2023

What does St Paul mean when he says that his body is glorified in the Lord?   St Paul had an experience unique throughout history on the road to Damascus. He was chosen by the Resurrection. 

The other Apostles had been called by Jesus of Nazareth who was definitely a man the same as they were. The Glory of the Transfiguration was only witnessed by Peter James and John and of these three only John did not desert the Lord on Calvary.

The Resurrection, the event of Father Son and Holy Spirit taking possession of Jesus' corpse in the tomb was witnessed by no man. It was God touching our World directly to show us that his Love is greater than the confines of time and space that govern creation. All the recognitions of the risen Lord were not instantaneous but nobody except St Paul was blinded in the act of seeing. St Thomas even touched the wounds that were still evident on the body the first fruits of the new creation.

God has created us to have the freedom that is a reflection of his own. He has revealed to us the way we should limit ourselves by only acting for the good of others. St Paul knows that the Glory that blinded him and stopped his persecution is still with him and manifest in the work he still does on earth but his soul is longing for the presence of God that is heaven.

I am sure that the St Paul who prayed that he was ready to lose his soul if that could bring about the redemption of his own people would teach that the Glory of God is that a fraction of a  second in world time of true repentance would be accepted and earn the full reward of Mercy. God, however is also Just and he would know the deceitful who would try, as it were , to climb over the back wall of the vineyard in today's parable and then present themselves for the full wage.

Dear Lord, your Glory is beyond my comprehension. I cannot say how great thou art but as a man I can show by my deeds that I believe what I think and say. Have mercy on all sinners let us all know that in the beauty of our world we witness only a miniscule of your Glory. May Mary your mother for whom the Glory of your choice of her was delivered by the message of an angel lead all the repentant sinners of heaven in a never ending chorus of praise that becomes a small part of your Glory and may your Mercy not be rejected by any for we all are in need of it.