Heart of Catechesis

SAUL...PAUL

Sacred Scripture

Acts Chapter 9:1-31 1 Cor 12 & 13

Catechism of the Catholic Church

#738, 752, 788, 797, 798

#826, 830, 866-869

PARENTS’ & CATECHISTS’ READING REFLECTION & PRAYER

Abram—Abraham

Jacob—Israel

Simon—Peter

God changes people’s names when He has a mission or new plan for their lives. Abraham was to become the Father of many nations, Israel “contended with God”, and Peter became the “Rock” on which Jesus would build His Church.

That brings us to:

Saul—Paul

CONVERSION OF SAINT PAUL FRA ANGELICO, 1430 MUSEO DI SAN MARCO, FLORENCE

WHAT’S IN A NAME?

Did you know?

Our names change when our mission in life changes:

Miss—Mrs.

Miss—Sr.

Mr.—Dr.

Mr.—Fr.

HEART OF CATECHESIS

OUR CATHOLIC CHURCH--THE MYSTICAL BODY OF CHRIST LESSON 7

Sacred Scripture Grades K-1 The Illustrated Acts of the Apostles pp. 22-25

Grades 2-4 Bible for Young Catholics pp.289-291, 301

Grades 5-12 Acts 9:1-31 1 Cor 12 & 13

Catechism Grades K-2 First Communion Catechism pp. n/a

Grades 3-6 Baltimore Catechism #1 pp. 56-58, 60-62

Grades 7-12 Catechism of the Catholic Church #738,752,788,797 #826,830,866-869

STUDENTS’ READING REFLECTION & PRAYER

TEACHING STRATEGY & OBJECTIVES

THEME: QUITE OFTEN GOD CHOOSES THE MOST UNLIKELY PERSONS TO BE HIS GREATEST WITNESSES!

OBJECTIVES: Discuss Saul’s Conversion God chose a dramatic way to convert Saul Identify that Saul’s actions are an attack on Jesus—in His Mystical Body the Church Discuss THE CATHOLIC CHURCH Discuss how we build up the Church in our parish family Discuss Saul/Paul’s healing and Baptism Discuss how Paul was treated after his conversion Discuss Paul’s journey after his conversion

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OPENING PRAYER

REVIEW: QUIZ NEXT WEEK. PLEASE SEE REVIEW SHEET FOR SECTION 1

THE LORD’S PRAYER

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READINGS FROM SACRED SCRIPTURE: SAUL BECOMES PAUL ACTS 9:1—31

WHO IS SAUL?

Saul was born in Tarsus a port city in Cilicia (modern day Turkey). He was part of a large Jewish population living in the area. His father was a citizen of Rome making Saul a citizen as well. As a young adult, he was sent to Je-rusalem to study the Bible with the great teacher Rabban Gamaliel. After his studies were complete, he returned to Tarsus to work with his father as a tentmaker. Saul had two influences in his life. While he was raised in a strict-ly Jewish environment, his every day life and trade put him in contact with the Hellenistic Culture. WHY IS SAUL STILL ANGRY?

Saul refuses to believe that Jesus was the Messiah. He did not believe that Christ had risen from the dead. He thought that be-lieving in Jesus was blasphemy, a terrible sin against his religion. WHY DOES SAUL GO TO THE HIGH PRIEST?

Saul, as we have seen, is obsessed with destroying every trace of faith in Jesus…even if it means imprisoning, torturing, or even killing people who believe in Jesus.

Saul saw that the New Way was spreading… that more and more people were coming to believe that Jesus was the Christ. He found out that a large group of believers was growing in a city called Damascus…which was more than 150 miles northeast of Jerusalem.

Pontius Pilate had been sent away from Judea and the Romans had not yet replaced him. The High Priest had greater political power, and could allow an angry mob to stone Stephen… or give Saul the authority to arrest followers of Jesus in Jerusalem… and even in Damascus.

WHAT HAPPENS TO SAUL ON THE ROAD TO DAMASCUS, AND WHAT ARE JESUS’ FIRST WORDS TO HIM?

Saul is knocked to the ground by a blinding light. Jesus speaks to him and asks,

“SAUL… SAUL… WHY DO YOU PERSECUTE ME”?

Visual Bible Alive

The Conversion of Saint Paul Caravaggio, 1600

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WHAT IS THE IMPORTANCE OF THESE WORDS?

This is one of the most important moments of our entire year of studies. Jesus does not ask, “WHY DO YOU PER-SECUTE MY FOLLOWERS?” or “WHY DO YOU PERSECUTE MY CHURCH?”… but WHY DO YOU PERSE-CUTE ME?

This year we are studying the story of the early years of the Catholic Church. Jesus told St. Peter in MATTHEW 16 that Peter was the “Rock” on which He would build His Church. The Church is not merely an organization or a club or a group of people who think the same way. The Church is the Mystical Body of Jesus Christ…

THE CATHOLIC CHURCH BAPTIZED FOLLOWERS OF JESUS BELIEVE, WORSHIP, AND ARE SANCTIFIED IN A MYSTICAL BODY WHICH IS ONE, HOLY, UNIVERSAL, AND APOSTOLIC.

THROUGH BAPTISM WE BECOME A PART OF THIS MYSTICAL BODY. BAPTISM is THE SACRAMENT IN WHICH THE GUILT OF ORIGINAL SIN IS WASHED AWAY, WE BECOME CHILDREN OF GOD, AND THE INDWELLING PRESENCE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT IS BREATHED INTO OUR SOUL. Baptism emblazons a character on our soul which makes us God’s adopted sons and daughters and also makes us members of His Church.

This same character [which is indelible…it cannot be removed] gives us the power to Worship and to receive the other SACRAMENTS which are OUTWARD SIGNS FROM JESUS WHICH GIVE GRACE. GRACE is THE LIFE AND LOVE OF GOD WITHIN US.

In Baptism we become so closely united with Jesus Christ, that He is with us wherever we are. All over the world, wherever Christians are present, Jesus is there in and through them. He speaks and teaches in and through us. He gives to the poor in and through us. He loves in and through us. We are Christ’s Hands, His Mouth, His Heart…and we are like His Human body still in the world…and the Holy Spirit is the “soul” of this Mystical Body.

St. Paul explains this in his letter to the Corinthians [1 Cor 12]… “The body is one and has many members, but all the members, though they are, are one body; and so it is with Christ” [v. 12]. “There are different gifts but the same spirit; there are different ministries, but the same Lord; there are differed works but the same God who accomplishes all of them in everyone. To each person the manifestation of the spririt is given for the common good” [v. 4—7].

As we work together to know, love, and serve Jesus in Himself and in others, we see many elements of our term of the Catholic Church coming to be in and through us… BAPTIZED FOLLOWERS OF JESUS with the virtue of FAITH are able to

BELIEVE- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - in the Mysteries which God has revealed and

WORSHIP- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - in prayer, in liturgies, and in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass Our One True God, and by His GRACE and the seven SACRAMENTS are

SANCTIFIED- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - “made Holy”...and perfected in Jesus’ Image and Likeness.

Our CHURCH is the MYSTICAL BODY of Jesus Christ. We are ONE in Faith, HOLY by virtue of Grace, UNIVER-SAL [this is what “catholic” means…] in that we embrace and enflesh all of the teachings of Jesus. We are a light to all the world. And we are APOSTOLIC… like Paul and the 12 Apostles we too are “sent out” to preach the Good News that Jesus Christ is Lord… “HE WHO HEARS YOU, HEARS ME” [LK 10:16].

This we all accomplish by our union with Jesus Christ. He Himself tells us just how close this union is in MT 25: 37—40… “AMEN, AS OFTEN AS YOU DID IT FOR ONE OF MY LEAST BROTHERS, YOU DID IT FOR ME.”

So, when Saul attacked and persecuted the members of the Early Church, and Jesus Christ thundered from the heavens to stop Him, this is why Our Risen Lord asks, “SAUL, SAUL…WHY DO YOU PERSECUTE ME?”

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FOR DISCUSSION…

FELLOW CATECHISTS…THIS MIGHT BE A GOOD PLACE TO CONDUCT AN EXTENDED DISCUSSION OF THE CHURCH. THESE OR OTHER QUESTIONS MIGHT SERVE AS A USEFUL CATALYST TO DRAW ANSWERS FROM THE KIDS… PERHAPS THEIR ANSWERS SHOULD BE WRITTEN UP ON THE BOARD? WHAT ARE SOME OF THE GIFTS THAT GOD GIVES TO US TO BUILD UP THE CHURCH? [see 1 COR 12 & 13]… TEACHING PREACHING ADMINISTRATING HEALING PRAYING MIRACLES…. AND THE PRIESTHOOD! WHAT GIFTS DO YOU THINK GOD HAS GIVEN TO OUR PARISH? WHAT GIFTS DO YOU THINK GOD HAS GIVEN TO YOU? WISDOM, UNDERSTANDING, COUNSEL, KNOWLEDGE, FORTITUDE, PIETY, FEAR OF THE LORD… TO READ AT MASS… TO LEAD THE ROSARY… “CANDLE LIGHTERS”… ALTAR SERVERS… GREETERS… CHRIST’S HANDS OUTREACH… SINGING… ETC.

WHAT DOES SAUL ASK JESUS NEXT?

Who are you Lord? Jesus responds, “I AM JESUS, THE ONE YOU ARE PERSECUTING.” WHAT IS THE SIGNIFICANCE OF SAUL’S BLINDNESS?

Saul is struck physically blind… perhaps to teach him [and us] about his spiritual blindness [his inability and refusal to recognize and believe in Jesus]… It also humbled him and prepared him for the Grace, the Light, and the Holy Spirit he would soon receive. WHO IS SENT TO HELP SAUL?

A man named Ananias. Although Ananias is reluctant to visit Saul [he knows about Saul’s mission to destroy the Church in Damascus], Jesus commands him to go… “THIS MAN IS THE INSTRUMENT I HAVE CHOSEN TO BRING MY NAME TO THE GENTILES AND THEIR KINGS AND THE PEOPLE OF ISRAEL. I MYSELF SHALL SHOW HIM HOW MUCH HE WILL HAVE TO SUFFER FOR THE SAKE OF MY NAME” [v. 15]. WHAT DOES ANANIAS CALL SAUL, AND WHAT DOES THIS MEAN?

He calls Saul “brother”… for Saul is about to become his brother in Christ by Baptism. When we become CHILDREN OF GOD OUR FATHER in Baptism, we also become brothers and sisters of Jesus Christ. WHAT DOES SAUL DO IMMEDIATELY AFTER HE IS BAPTIZED?

Saul…no longer breathing “murderous threats” and able to see again…was filled with the love of the Holy Spirit; immediately begins to teach in the synagogues of Damascus that Jesus is the Messiah. HOW DO THE PEOPLE REACT TO HIM?

Some wonder about this man who was trying to destroy the memory of Jesus…and who is now on fire with enthusiasm that all might believe in Him. Paul grows more wise and power-ful… but many people begin to hate him…and plot to kill him. As a result of this, he has to flee from Damascus.

ANANIAS GIVING PAUL HIS SIGHT BACK PIETRO DA CORTONA, 1631

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HOW DOES SAUL ESCAPE FROM DAMASCUS?

With a rope they lower him out of a window in the city wall in a big basket. WHAT DOES SAUL DO AFTER LEAVING DAMASCUS?

As we read the Acts of the Apostles, it is not clear. In verse 25, Saul makes his escape. Verse 26 says that Paul went to Jerusalem…but Luke does not tell us in the Acts of the Apostles about Saul’s retreat into the deserts of Ara-bia which lasted three years [we learn about this “side-trip” in the letter to the Galatians 1:15—20]. Saul needed this time to retreat, to fast, and to pray to try to make sense of the message he had received from Jesus…and to figure out how best to serve His Lord. WHERE DOES SAUL GO AFTER HIS RETREAT IN ARABIA?

To Damascus…then on to Jerusalem. HOW DOES THE COMMUNITY IN JERUSALEM REACT TO SAUL?

They remember that he persecuted and arrested many of them and had them put to death. They do not trust him and are afraid of him. WHO HELPS SAUL?

Barnabas, who is trusted by the community in Jerusalem. Barnabas helps them to understand that Saul has truly changed. WHAT HAPPENS WHEN SAUL BEGINS TO PREACH AND TEACH IN JERUSALEM?

You guessed it! They try to kill him. WHERE DOES SAUL GO AFTER HE LEAVES JERUSALEM?

He goes back to Tarsus…and he’ll quietly ply his trade of tentmaker there for several years… [perhaps from 39 AD to 42 AD]… waiting for the sum-mons of Christ.

WHY DO YOU THINK THAT JESUS CHOSE SAUL TO BECOME HIS GREAT APOSTLE?

First… because Jesus loved Saul [as He loves us all].

Second… because Saul was very intelligent and brave. He knew the scriptures as well as anyone…and could ef-fectively use his knowledge to prove that Jesus was the prophesied Messiah. Paul also had [and would receive] many other gifts that he needed to bring the Gospel to “the ends of the earth.”

Third… because Jesus wanted to show us for all time that his Love is more powerful than the hatred which often motivates men. Jesus chose the man in the world who hated Him the most… a man who had set out to destroy His Church… to be the boldest and bravest of Apostles.

God definitely has a sense of humor!

Christians Unite Holy Card published 1909

Visual Bible Alive

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WHY DO WE CALL SAUL “PAUL?” Later in ACTS this is how Saul/Paul begins to refer to himself.

“Saul” means “He was asked for.” Perhaps this is a mysterious reference to St. Stephen’s prayer while he was being stoned. He asked for mercy for his killers… and perhaps in this moment won the grace necessary for Saul’s Conversion.

“Paul” means “little one”… perhaps a reference to Paul’s smallness…a rather obstinate and opinionated son of Isra-el ready to take on the world for the sake of Jesus Christ.

Remember how important “name changes” and nicknames are in the Bible. When God re-names someone it often means that He is conferring a mission upon them.

And Saul… Paul will be equal to the mission and the many adventures that lay before him!

Statue of Saint Paul Adamo, Tadolini, 1838 , Saint Peter’s Square

On the book is the inscription, "I can do all things in him who strengthens me", re-calling the text from Paul's Letter to the Philippians 4:13.