Conversion of St. Paul
Genesis, Chapter 38, Verse 11
Then Judah said to his
daughter-in-law Tamar, “Remain a widow in your father’s house until my son
Shelah grows up”—for he FEARED that
Shelah also might die like his brothers. So, Tamar went to live in her father’s
house.
Judah
feared his youngest would die like his two brothers who married Tamar and
failed to provide for her children from the marriage sending her back to her
father; fearing she was cursed
causing Judah’s two older son’s deaths. This sordid tale reads like a soap
opera.
Tamar is first described as
marrying Judah's eldest son, Er. Because of his wickedness, Er was killed by
God. By way of a Levirate union, (a marriage in which the brother of
a deceased man is obliged to marry his brother's widow) Judah asked his second
son, Onan, to provide offspring for Tamar so that the family line might
continue. Tikva Frymer-Kensky explains that this could have substantial
economic repercussions, with any son born deemed the heir of the deceased Er,
and able to claim the firstborn's double share of inheritance. However, if Er
was childless, Onan would inherit as the oldest surviving son. Onan spills his
seed out on the ground as an act of greed. His actions were deemed wicked by
God and so, like his older brother, he died prematurely. At this point, Judah
is portrayed as viewing Tamar to be cursed, and is therefore reluctant to give
his remaining and youngest son to her. Rather, he told Tamar to wait for
Shelah, his son to grow older. However, even after he grew up, Judah did not
give Tamar to Shelah in marriage.
At the time Shelah grew up, Judah
became a widower. After Judah mourned the death of his wife, he planned on
going to Timnah to shear his sheep. Upon hearing this news, Tamar disguised
herself as a prostitute and immediately went to Enaim which was en route to
Judah's destination. Upon arriving at Enaim, Judah saw the woman but did not
recognize her as Tamar because of the veil she wore over her face. Thinking she
was a prostitute; he requested her services. Tamar's plan was to become
pregnant by this ruse in order to bear a child in Judah's line, because Judah
had not given her to his son Shelah. So she played the part of a prostitute and
struck a deal with Judah for a goat with a security deposit of his staff, seal,
and cord. When Judah was able to have a goat sent to Enaim, in order to collect
his staff and seal, the woman was nowhere to be found and no one knew of any
prostitute in Enaim.
Three months later, Tamar was
accused of prostitution on account of her pregnancy. Upon hearing this news,
Judah ordered that she be burned to death. Tamar sent the staff, seal, and cord
to Judah with a message declaring that the owner of these items was the man who
had made her pregnant. Upon recognizing his security deposit, Judah released
Tamar from her sentence. Tamar's place in the family and Judah's posterity
secured, she gives birth to twins, Perez and Zerah. Their birth is reminiscent
of the birth of Rebekah's twin sons. The midwife marks Zerah's hand with a
scarlet cord when it emerges from the womb first, but Perez is born first.
Perez is identified in the Book of Ruth as the ancestor of King David.[1]
Whew! To Er is human but to love
is divine. It is stuff like this that sometimes makes you want to go out into
the desert and become a hermit.
Feast
of the conversion of St. Paul[2]
St. Paul was born at
Tarsus, Cilicia, of Jewish parents who were descended from the tribe of
Benjamin. He was a Roman citizen from birth. To complete his schooling, St.
Paul was sent to Jerusalem, where he sat at the feet of the learned Gamaliel
and was educated in the strict observance of the ancestral Law. As a convinced
and zealous Pharisee, he returned to Tarsus before the public life of Christ in
Palestine.
Sometime after the death
of Our Lord, St. Paul returned to Palestine. His profound conviction made his
zeal develop to a religious fanaticism against the infant Church. He took part
in the stoning of the first martyr, St. Stephen, and in the fierce persecution
of the Christians that followed. Entrusted with a formal mission from the high
priest, he departed for Damascus to arrest the Christians there and bring them
bound to Jerusalem. As he was nearing Damascus, about noon, a light from heaven
suddenly blazed round him. Jesus with His glorified body appeared to him and
addressed him, turning him away from his apparently successful career. An
immediate transformation was wrought in the soul of St. Paul. He was suddenly
converted to the Christian Faith. He was baptized, changed his name from Saul
to Paul, and began travelling and preaching the Faith. He was martyred as an
Apostle in Rome around 65 AD.
What do we learn from this history?[3]
Not
to despise any sinner, nor to despair of his salvation: for, like Paul on the
road to Damascus, the greatest sinner may, by the grace of God, be suddenly
converted, and become a saint. At the command of God he accepted Ananias as his
leader in the way of salvation, and became as zealous for the honor of Christ
as he had previously been intent on persecuting Him. In like manner, a convert
must shut his eyes to all by which he has heretofore been led astray and must
give heed to that only which God commands.
Today
try and be 100% for God.
As iron, cast into the fire, loses its rust and
becomes bright with the flame, so too a man who turns his whole heart to Me is
purified and all sluggishness and changed into a new man.[4]
Who am I, Lord, that I should be considered by You: I AM WHO AM.
Like
Paul we must be fearless in
proclaiming the gospel.
“Go into the whole world and proclaim the Gospel to
every creature. Whoever believes and is
baptized will be saved; whoever does not believe will be condemned. (Mk.
16:15-16)
Life First[5] 9 Days
for Life
9 Days for Life is a "digital
pilgrimage" of prayer and action focused on cherishing the gift of every
person's life. A multi-faceted novena highlighting a different intention each
day provides reflections, bonus information, and suggested actions. Join
to receive the novena through the 9 Days for Life app, daily emails, or daily
texts. See below for information on how else you can get involved! #9DaysforLife #OurPrayersMatter
Day Five:
Intercession: May each person suffering from the loss of a child through abortion find hope and healing in Christ.
Prayers: Our Father, 3 Hail Mary’s, Glory Be
Reflection: After
more than four decades of legalized abortion, many children’s lives have been
ended, and many parents and family members suffer that loss—often in silence.
Yet God’s greatest desire is to forgive. No matter how far we have each strayed
from His side, He says to us, “Don’t be afraid. Draw close to my heart.” Be
assured that it is never too late to seek God's forgiveness in the Sacrament of
Reconciliation.
Acts
of Reparation (Choose one.)
·
Abstain
from meat today. If you are already abstaining from meat today, skip your
favorite snack, too.
·
Pray
the Chaplet of Divine Mercy (www.usccb.org/divine-mercy-chaplet) for those who are suffering the
loss of a child through abortion, asking that they find healing and peace.
·
Offer
some other sacrifice, prayer, or act of penance that you feel called to do for
today’s intention.
Irish Coffee Day[6]
1942 proved a fortuitous
year for transatlantic travelers wearied by the cold and damp conditions of an
Irish winter. Thanks to the innovative imagination of bartender Joe Sheridan,
they were soon to have their cockles delightfully warmed by an almost decadent
blend of fine Irish whiskey with the irresistible taste and aroma of freshly
brewed coffee. Combined with the subtle sweetness of brown sugar and sipped
through the luxurious density of whipped cream, it was a recipe that would
become a global hit that needed no specific weather conditions to be enjoyed.
Daily
Devotions/Activities
·
30 Days (day 8) with St. Joseph (End on Feast of St. Joseph)
·
Eat waffles and Pray for the assistance of the Angels
·
Monday: Litany of
Humility
·
Rosary
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