ISSUE # 37 April-June 2009

The End of the Pauline Year

A year ago Pope Benedict XVI proclaimed a year of St. Paul on the occasion of the 2000th anniversary of the birth of this zealous Apostle. In his message during the general audience of July 2, 2008, Pope Benedict hailed the Apostle Paul as “an outstanding and almost inimitable yet stimulating figure, stands before us as an example of total dedication to the Lord and to his Church, as well as of great openness to humanity and its cultures.”

Dedication and zeal are characteristics that kept Paul along the right track. It was this devotion to Christ that made him journey to the farthest place of the then known world. There was no stopping Paul. He established communities and nurtured them as only he was able to do. Nothing held Paul back from his loyalty to Christ. He said, “The love of Christ urges us!” What other reason did he have than his great love for the Lord? Yet on hindsight, it was not Paul who loved the Lord first. On the contrary it was Jesus Christ himself who called Paul along the road, made him hear and believe, and entrusted him with the Good News.

Paul’s loyalty to God and his faith matures into solidarity with the people. Encountering Jesus along the way brought Paul face to face with persons who listened to his message of hope rooted in Christ who died but rose to life. Paul’s experience of having been restored by God rendered him a potent instrument of renewal not only of persons but of entire communities as well.

In exactly the same manner, every vocation is born. God calls the person, makes him hear the divine invitation and entrusts him with the message of joy for all people. Paul’s zeal exemplifies the right manner of response to this summoning: total dedication to the Lord and to the Church.

The more we look at Paul the better we understand that a great challenge is hurled upon those who wish to answer God’s call. With Paul’s example before us, we recognize there is nothing more profound than a response rooted on love. This love is strong enough to transform the vilest persecutor into an ardent preacher. Paul understood this when he exclaimed, “Who can separate us from the love of Christ?” (Romas 8:35). There is nothing indeed. Moreover, it makes the staggering limbs swift and the drooping spirit alive and fervent. How can we forget these beautiful words of a man whose feet were tireless in bringing hope to all? But how can they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how can they believe in him of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone to preach? And how can people preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring the good news” (Rom.10:14-15).

Paul’s year draws to a close. But the example of his passion for the Gospel will always remain as a shining beacon and example for all those who wish to dedicate their lives for the proclamation of God’s love. The Pope summarized the objective of this Pauline year in these words: “The Apostle Paul, precisely, is a paradigm of the highest order from whom we all, always, still have much to learn. And this is the goal of the Pauline Year: to learn from St. Paul, to learn faith, to learn Christ and finally to learn the way of upright living.” And this we hope to continue to do. ::