St. Paul revolutionized the message of Christianity in ways that should make all the nations of the world eternally grateful. If not for him, Christianity would’ve been a tiny Jewish sect that likely would’ve died out after a few generations. St. Paul, however, boldly gave voice to the universal message and salvic mission of Jesus Christ. While some of the other apostles hesitated for full inclusion of Gentiles, St. Paul relentlessly faced persecution and hardship to ensure that we would live in freedom by the grace of Christ and not according to the slavery of the mosaic law.
Pope Benedict dedicated June 2008-June 2009 as the “Year of St. Paul.” Here are few excerpts from his homily announcing it:
Paul wants to speak to us – today. That is why I chose to establish this special “Pauline Year”: in order to listen to him and learn today from him, as our teacher, “the faith and the truth” in which the reasons for unity among Christ’s disciples are rooted…Let us not ask ourselves only: who was Paul? Let us ask ourselves above all: who is Paul?
What better way to meet St. Paul then to read his writings? I’ve made it a personal goal to read all of St. Paul’s letters throughout the Pauline year. I am reading them with various Catholic commentaries to get an idea of the depth of his thought (he is definitely not light reading). So, I encourage everyone to read St. Paul this year and appreciate his character, ideas, and his influence in the Church and the world.
October 16, 2008 at 10:11 pm |
So far I’ve read Acts 1-12, both letters to the Thessalonians, and the 1st letter to the Corinthians.
Jonathan, you’re very right; I have discovered that St. Paul is definetely not light reading.