Scales of blindness

Many of us have been there – full of zeal about what we believe and anyone who dares believe differently is the enemy, and we go full steam ahead to “get rid” of those troublemakers. 

Then it happens, God “knocks us off our high horse” and shows us we’ve been blind fools and admonishes us to get busy doing what he wants us to do.

The feast of the conversion of St. Paul, Jan. 25, enlightens us to the fact that the saints were also human and some had to be “set straight” before beginning their mission.

The conversion story begins with Saul of Tarsus, a Pharisee in Jerusalem after the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ, who swore to wipe out the new Christian church called The Way. According to Acts 9:1 Saul was “breathing out murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples.” He obtained letters from the high priest authorizing him to arrest any followers of Jesus in the city of Damascus.

Saul set out with zeal on the road to Damascus, and in one of the most dramatic conversion scenes of church history, a light flashed from the sky around him and he fell to the ground. Saul heard a voice say, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?” 

When Saul asked who was speaking, the voice replied: “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.” 

The saint’s companions led him into Damascus to the house of a man named Judas. For three days Saul was blind and didn’t eat or drink. God told the disciple Ananias, who was initially reluctant because he knew of Saul’s reputation, to lay hands on Saul. Afterwards, the scales fell from Saul’s eyes. He was then baptized and God changed his name to Paul. 

From a fierce persecutor, St. Paul became the great apostle of the Gentiles. He made three missionary journeys which brought him to Asia Minor and southern Europe, and he converted many. Fourteen epistles in the New Testament are attributed to him. He was beheaded in Rome around 66 A.D., and his relics are in the Basilica of St. Paul Outside-the-Walls near the Ostian Way.

The assumption that St. Paul was riding on a horse while at the time of his conversion has been reinforced by several artistic depictions, including Caravaggio’s “Conversion on the Way to Damascus” and “Conversion of St. Paul” (1601). But according to Catholic resources, the New Testament does not mention of Saul being thrown from or even traveling by horse on the road to Damascus.

But an important point is that at noon, the custom of pious Jewish men was to recite prayers while standing on their feet and facing toward Jerusalem.

Author Dr. Taylor Marshall suggests in his book, “The Catholic Perspective on Paul,” that it is quite possible that as a pious Jew Saul observed midday prayer on the day of his conversion. This would have meant that he was likely standing erect and facing south to Jerusalem when he was blinded by the light of Christ and fell to the ground.

And this is something that can resonate with many Catholics, as sometimes during prayer God “knocks us off our high horse” and shows us our blind spots. And after the scales fall from our eyes God sends us out on a mission.