3 As he was approaching Damascus on this mission, a light from heaven suddenly shone down around him. 4 He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul! Saul! Why are you persecuting me?”
5 “Who are you, lord?” Saul asked.
And the voice replied, “I am Jesus, the one you are persecuting! 6 Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”
7 The men with Saul stood speechless, for they heard the sound of someone’s voice but saw no one! 8 Saul picked himself up off the ground, but when he opened his eyes he was blind. So his companions led him by the hand to Damascus. 9 He remained there blind for three days and did not eat or drink.
(Acts 9:1-9)
Heavenly Father:
Saul left Jerusalem, warrants in hand,
cursing all Christians who scattered the land,
threatening, walking bent forward, intense,
his travel companions could barely keep up.
"Onward," he yelled with Zealot-like fury.
Those who were with him said, "Why the big hurry?"
But Saul was a man of rarified passion,
strong, short and stocky, and full of fierce madness.
He will let nothing stop him on his mission,
putting in chains every one called a Christian.
Saul is possessed with a fiery ambition,
leaps from his eyes, burns in his gut.
Then a bright light, like none ever seen,
eclipsed his fire, and brought to his knees,
hands over eyes, Saul drops the decrees,
High Priest authority means nothing here.
So Saul's companions, by lagging behind,
evade the explosion that made Saul's eyes blind.
Seeing him down on the ground like a beggar,
brings them a-running to render him aid.
"Saul," says a voice from above this odd scene,
"Saul," it repeats, "Why persecute Me?"
Those who bent over the Inquisitor,
heard the voice speaking but saw not a thing.
"Who are you, sir," the Benjamite gasps.
"I am Jesus whom You harass.
Get up and go into Damascus now.
I will send help and restore your vision."
Saul, with no help from his travelling friends,
clambors with effort to rise from his knees.
Blind and confused, he limps into town
warrants a-scatter, blown to the breeze.
Precious Lord Christ, I confess with no guile,
I have been walking a road quite a while
headlong and focused on having my way,
holding resentments and anger and fury,
Warranting rushing toward goals not worth having,
pushing past people who got in my way,
challenging others to keep up if able,
leaving behind the folks too dumb to play.
Then in a flash You made Yourself known,
speaking through Scriptures or one of Your own,
You drove me down to my knees overwhelmed,
opening heart and my mind to Your vision.
Lord, make us ready when Your Gospel breaks
upon the sinner who confession makes,
then struggles to walk in Your will and Your way,
help us provide a steady assurance.
Smite us with kindness, eclipse doubt with hope,
send us to town on the arms of some dopes
chosen by You to reveal our dependence
on grace and mercy and Your Sovereign Love.
Amen.
