Saul was on his way to Damascus to arrest and detain "anyone he might find, man or woman" (Acts 9:3) living according to the new way, i.e. Jesus. Vehement against anyone who was following Christ, we read how Saul was breathing murderous threats against the Lord's disciples. How would you like to be on Saul's bad side?

Upon approaching Damascus, a light from the sky flashed around him and Saul fell to the ground. The voice of Jesus came to him and asked why he was persecuting him. Then Jesus told Saul to go into town where he would be given further instructions. Saul was blinded (for 3 days) and we learn that his companions had to take him by the hand and lead him into Damascus. In Damascus, Ananias would pray over Paul to recover his sight and be baptized and filled with the Holy Spirit.

Saul was led by the hand to baptism and being filled with the Holy Spirit who gives us the power to know Jesus who is Risen for all. We see how other people took Paul by the hand so he could experience salvation. How does God take us by the hand and lead us to himself? He uses other people! Who has taken you by the hand and led you to baptism, The Holy Spirit and the Risen Jesus? Who have you taken by the hand and led to baptism, The Holy Spirit and the Risen Jesus?

Is not that what church is all about? Is that not what we are all about? We exist to get others to baptism. We exist to take others by the hand to The Holy Spirit and Jesus who bring us all together in the Father and His Everlasting Kingdom. When we make the sign of the cross with the Holy Water as we enter mass, we are committing to sharing the love and life of God which knows no bounds with all the people we meet. Do we know that? Just like Saul's companions who took him by the hand to the light and salvation of Christ, so must we do. And whether those we take by the hand and lead to Christ become like Saul who evangelized countless people and gave us the majority of the New Testament or if they remain obscure, our responsibility of signing ourselves in the form of the Cross with the Holy Water remains the same - we are to take others by the hand into the light of Jesus. That, my sisters and brothers, is WHY we are!

Blessed by the BEST,

+Fr. John