Biblical scholar to discuss ‘St. Paul: A Most Unlikely Convert’

By John Gleason

In accordance with the Year of St. Paul, which began June 28 and runs through June 29, 2009, the Denver Archdiocese is sponsoring a lecture about the saint on Oct. 8.

Pope Benedict XVI instituted the year to celebrate the approximate 2,000th anniversary of the apostle’s birth.

“St. Paul: A Most Unlikely Convert—His Graced Call and Conversion” will be presented by Dominican Father Jay Harrington, a New Testament scholar and currently special assistant in the archdiocese’s Office of Liturgy.  He is the author of “The Lukan Passion Narrative” (Brill, 2000) and co-author of “The Gospel of Luke—A Cumulative Bibliography” (Louvain University Press).
In announcing the Pauline year, the pope said the saint is a model of Christian evangelization and sacrifice and urged the faithful to observe the jubilee with special liturgies, symposiums and publications devoted to his life and writings.
During his time St. Paul’s travels took him through present day Israel, Syria, Turkey and Greece proclaiming the Gospel to all who would listen.  Eventually, he was arrested and accused of violating the sacred grounds of the Temple in Jerusalem.  As a Roman citizen, he appealed his case to the emperor and was taken to Rome where he was ultimately martyred.  Father Harrington said Paul was a most unlikely Christian.

“Paul underwent a dramatic conversion,” he said.  “His mission changed from persecuting a people because of their faith, to drawing people and unifying them in their faith.”

Some aspects of Paul’s letters show that he could be rough and ruffled feathers in certain pastoral circumstances.  He did this because he realized how much was at stake: peoples’ salvation.

“When in Galatia he found that people were reverting to a different understanding of the Christian Gospel,” Father Harrington said, “he became very upset and the language of that letter is rather heated.”

Still, for all his faults, Paul was chosen by God. Every sinner has a past, the priest said, and every saint has a future.

Early on Paul was feared because of his persecution of the Church, but later he became revered for his desire to share his faith in Christ with all those he encountered. He is known and revered for his letters which remain a lasting legacy and was especially eager to share his faith with those who had never heard of Jesus Christ.

“When we become familiar with Paul’s hardship catalogues—the lists of sufferings he endured for the sake of the Gospel—one can only be amazed and humbled that he would suffer so much to bring the Gospel to others, and never give up,” said Father Harrington.

The scholar said he hopes people will come away from the lecture with a deeper appreciation of Paul’s letters, a greater insight into his personality and spirituality, and a desire to imitate him as he imitated Christ.

The lecture is set for 7 p.m. Oct. 8 at Sts. Peter and Paul Church, 3900 Pierce St. in Wheat Ridge. The lecture is free and open to the public.  Call the Office of Liturgy for more information at 303-715-3156.