That’s the question today: have you met Jesus? Is your life different? Things certainly changed for the little man who knew about Jesus and hated him and his followers, and didn’t know Jesus loved him. Remember him? Standing there at Stephen’s death not brave enough or too holy and hoity toity to throw a stone but holding the cloaks of those who did? Actively conniving at and condoning Stephen’s death and breathing his murderous threats and systematically rounding up the followers of the blasphemous heretic Jesus. Then suddenly Jesus speaks to him and calls him by name Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? or in other words: I love you Saul,. Why do you hate me? Notice that Saul had been completely sincere: but that was no use for he was sincerely wrong. Let’s not be confused on this; it’s good to be sincere but sincerity does not save you. The Hare Krishna singers on the streets of Cork colourful, admirable for their sincerity, but sincerely wrong since they do not know Jesus Christ; Or take a violent example: The Omagh bombers, probably sincere in their narrow vision of what they think is right for Ireland are sincerely and completely wrong. They need, and may yet have, an encounter with Jesus Christ to change the whole direction of their lives. And we also, need to hear the voice of Jesus: ‘John, John, ... why are you persecuting me? Why do you hate me? Why do you keep letting me down?’ As in Timothy Dudley Smith’s words in Mission Praise y 285 5 ‘the voice of Jesus echoes in my ears: ‘I gave my life to break the cords that bind you I rose from death to set your spirit free Turn from your sins and put the past behind you. Take up the cross and come and follow me.’

The start of the autumn season, a time for new starts is a good time to acknowledge that we need such a converting meeting with Jesus Christ and it is also important to see that conversion is not about one single, one off experience it is a threefold conversion to Christ, to the Church and to the world. What happened to Saul after the Damascus Rd was as important as what happened in the flash of light and falling to the ground. Important especially for us Protestants with our emphasis on the individual’s relationship with God. We have to see that there is a church dimension also Christian faith lacks something without church involvement. What happened to Saul and was vital that it should happen was that Ananias was willing to go and greet him as ‘Brother Saul’ Jesus had already spoken to him on the road. Now somebody who had every reason to fear and hate Saul was to greet him as a brother in Christ. That was no easier than it would be for someone suffering in Omagh to hear of a bomber repenting and looking for fellowship But such things can happen. It happened to Corrie ten Boom who suffered much in a concentration camp in the Second World War. She was preaching after the war in Germany and found herself speaking to one of her former prison guards a man who had been vicious and cruel. But he had turned to Christ, he said he had put that behind him and he reached out his hand to shake hers. What was she to do? What would you do? She told the Lord quietly that she didn’t want to touch the man but she only wanted to do what Jesus would do and she found herself reaching out to greet the man genuinely. Ananias had a similar struggle: he too needed to change and did change Are we willing to welcome people because Christ has welcomed them? Are we converted to Christ and the Church? If we say we love Jesus, we ought to love the church too because Christ loves the church. Or do we need to change our attitude to each other? Stand offishness, individualism. I’m all right on my own Don’t bother me’

And if we have changed in our approach to Christ & to other Christians then there is also be a change in how we see the world. Saul’s conversion was not a selfish thing just to give him a new life: his conversion involved a commission to offer new life to others a call to mission and to suffering 15 this man is my chosen instrument to carry my name before the Gentiles and their kings and before the people of Israel. I will show him how much he must suffer for my name. If we are converted, it means we should now see with ‘mission eyes’ see people as Christ sees them people who are hungry, deprived, hurting, lonely, lost needing food, clothing, healing, help, salvation Conversion brings a call to mission and to suffering for Christ Maybe we will not go far beyond our own home and neighbourhood but God has something for us to do.

In all the excitement of new beginnings this week all our wondering what new thing we might do this autumn,let’s ask: Is Jesus Christ in control in my life? Have I heard him calling my name? (converted to Christ) Have I a new attitude to other Christians to welcome them, whatever their past? (converted to the Church) Am I aware of what God wants me to in this needy world? (converted to the world)

Reference to Mission statement of Presbyterian Church in Ireland, elsewhere on this site.

Go as a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his glorious light in the name of the Father who made you and loves you of Jesus Christ who died for you and calls you and of the Holy Spirit who will give you strength and courage.