The benefit of being home with my kids is that I get to participate in morning mass. I love listening to the word of God. It’s even better when Aaron comes with me and behaves. hehehe…Today’s readings were about conversion: the conversion of St Paul.
What causes our confusion?? What causes us to lose hope, to doubt in the existence of God?? I think for the most part, we are lacking faith. In a previous post, I mentioned that faith is the ultimate reception of God’s love and gift. We don’t believe that God will give us our gift, so we grab for it instead.
St Paul was one of the most hated among Christians because he persecuted them. He tormented them and killed them, so why would people believe he had a conversion??
People are so skeptical of others that they can’t believe anyone could actually have a change of heart. How can an invisible “God” really talk to us? Or, look at Jeanette’s life…she is always gossiping about others, how can she be a follower of Christ? Christians are put under a microscope because we are expected to have all the answers and have a seemingly holier life, but people often forget that we are humans, not divine beings. We are working everyday to get rid of the stigma that follows Christians, or at least we should. Our lives should reflect the life of Christ. We need a Paul-like conversion. We need a total 180 degree change in our attitudes and lives so that we are now reflecting the life of Christ.
But how can we do that?? How can we have a deeper conversion?? I’ve been reading and contemplating this book called Deep Conversion, Deep Prayer by Fr. Thomas Dubay (I will post a link below) and it has really helped me deepen my prayer life as well as help with my conversion story. He quotes St Bernard of Clairvaux, “There are more people who convert from mortal sin to grace, than there are religious converted from good to better!” WOW!!! This is thought provoking…. why is it that this happens?? In one word: CONVERSION. What is true conversion??
True conversion is looking at your life and seeing the faults and working towards God and mirroring your life after the saints, apostles, Jesus and Mary. If it wasn’t for the conversion of St Paul, a lot of us would not be here believing in the gospel.
My conversion happened when I started studying the Theology of the Body. Those writings of St. John Paul II really changed my life. I am looking for ways to bring this to the wider group of people. A lot of people can have their own conversion by listening to these very healing words. There are many ways God can call us for conversion, but TOB was mine. After going to the Theology of the Body Institute and learning more, I have total faith that I’m following the right path. I am so happy I came across these writings, so please pray for me.
Below, I will share a link to download a talk by Christopher West entitled: Your Body Tells God’s Love Story! It is an introductory talk on the Theology of the Body! I hope you enjoy it!
May God bless you and help you with your conversion story.
Your sister in Christ,
Jeanette
Link to Deep Conversion Deep Prayer:
FREE talk by Christopher West
TOBCatholicMom 